Law enforcement from Nassau County and Southampton pay tribute to Chief Steven Skrynecki

Law enforcement from across Long Island paid their respects Tuesday to Steven Skrynecki, who served as the Nassau County Police Department's highest-ranking uniformed officer before becoming the Southampton Town police chief.

Skrynecki, 69, of Hicksville, who had been sick with myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of cancer, for the past seven months, died on Thursday.

Scott Skrynecki, a detective sergeant in Nassau's Third Squad, said his father learned a life of service from his parents, including his father, a World War II veteran.

"I hope that people learn from my father's career and his life — that hard work and compassion are not mutually exclusive," he said outside the Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home in Hicksville on Tuesday. "And in fact, one is not important without the other. And that's what he did every day. He did that in his public life, but also for our family. He worked hard for us every single day. He loved us. He filled us with strength. And as hard as he worked on his job, he worked 10 times as hard to build his family and to provide us with a wonderful life."

Nassau and Southampton officers, as well as friends and family, visited the Skrynecki family Tuesday. Several flower arrangements were carried into the funeral home, and friends and law enforcement members embraced in the parking lot. 

"It's surreal. We thought this day would never come, especially while he was still in office," Southampton PBA president Erik Breitwiester said. "We respect his lifelong service in law enforcement. He was a kind soul and showed his commitment to the communities he served. He was a great chief to all of us." 

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said he was close friends with Skrynecki and looked to him as a mentor throughout his career.

"He was a leader in law enforcement, clearly was someone that was a pioneer way ahead of his time in some of the programs and initiatives that he's created," Toulon said. "He created more diversity in law enforcement, which is something that's crucial for communities, and he was very engaging in gathering intelligence to help solve and prevent crimes."

Skrynecki joined the Nassau Police Department in 1974 as a patrol officer. During a 42-year career with the department, he oversaw robbery, vice, narcotics, internal affairs and detective units before becoming chief of the department, the highest uniformed rank under the commissioner. He was also a founding member of the Nassau County Police Pipe Band, with which his son performs.

In 2017, Skrynecki took over the 100-member Southampton force, where he unveiled plans for a departmentwide bodycam program, sought to increase diversity among the ranks and issued a new policy directing officers to formally notify him in writing of secondary off-duty employment.

Scott Skrynecki said the Southampton community warmly embraced his father. "He really loved the east end of Long Island," he said. "And he brought that to the Town of Southampton and the police department."

Southampton Town Police Lt. Susan Ralph said Skrynecki would often be one of the first to arrive at the police station and one of the last to leave at night. "It showed his dedication to law enforcement and the law enforcement profession," she said. "He was a consummate professional and he demanded a lot from his leadership within our department."

Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said by phone: "It’s a major loss for the town. He was a remarkable chief and we were very fortunate to have him for the past six years," he said. "He spent every waking moment working on how to protect people." 

Capt. James Kiernan will assume Skrynecki's duties in Southampton on an interim basis, officials said.

Nassau and Southampton Town police will hold a prayer vigil as part of the second day of the wake Wednesday night. Skrynecki's funeral is scheduled for Thursday in Amityville followed by interment in Farmingdale.