New police chief for Old Brookville takes helm of younger, smaller force
Michael Coen, seen here in Old Brookville on Oct. 3, was appointed chief of the village's police department. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Village of Old Brookville hired longtime police sergeant Michael Coen to replace outgoing police chief Christopher Walsh, who led the force through a downsizing.
Michael Coen, a former sergeant, succeeded Walsh on Sept. 30, Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba said. Walsh will remain a part-time consultant with the department, according to the village's website.
Coen has served with the department since 2010, including the past year as Walsh's deputy commanding officer. For years the Old Brookville police department had patrolled a total of six villages comprising 10,000 residents: Old Brookville, Brookville, Upper Brookville, Mill Neck, Matinecock and Cove Neck.
But in 2022, Old Brookville stopped patrolling the other villages after the municipalities failed to reach a new agreement for joint protection. Since June 1, 2022, Old Brookville has provided patrols exclusively for its own residents.
Old Brookville has a population of 2,020 and median household income of $188,092, according to U.S. census data.
The department, which was founded in 1949, has 13 officers. The village has been hiring younger officers as veteran police officers retire.
In a letter to residents, Ryba said the department "will begin a new chapter" under Coen. The 13-member department will evolve into a "younger force," Ryba said in the letter posted on the village's website.
From 2010 through 2019, Old Brookville averaged nearly 47 combined annual reports of larceny, burglary and motor vehicle thefts, according to data compiled by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. The figure dropped to 25 in 2022 and 13 total reports in 2023. The village saw a surge in motor vehicle thefts in 2020, when 18 vehicles were stolen. There were zero stolen vehicles in 2021, 12 in 2022 and five in 2023, according to the state data.
As chief, Walsh earned $296,417 in 2023, according to the state comptroller's office. Old Brookville officials declined to provide Coen's new salary. Newsday submitted a Freedom of Information Law request for the salary.
Walsh said he pitched village officials on Coen. He said he believes that small police departments should promote within for top leadership roles.
"He was the right pick to replace me," Walsh said in an interview. Over the past year and a half, Walsh said he "tried to show him everything he’d need to know going forward."
Coen, 47 of Locust Valley, spoke with Newsday about his law enforcement experience and new role. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
What is your background in law enforcement?
Coen said he served with the New York Police Department before joining the Old Brookville Police Department in 2010. "I graduated from the academy in 2003. I was a housing cop in Brooklyn until 2010, and then I got hired here," Walsh said. "In 2011, I went back to the NYPD for two years, and then I got rehired in 2013. Then, I’ve been here and got promoted in 2019 to sergeant."
What has the transition been like from sergeant to chief?
"For the last year, Chief Walsh made me his deputy," Coen said. "It was kind of like having double roles. I would be helping him with administrative stuff and learning the job, but I’d also still have to be on the road as a regular patrol supervisor."
What has Chief Walsh meant to you during that switch?
"He’s been great — a true professional," Coen said. "He was instrumental in the whole transition. He’s been showing me the ropes. It’s a much different job than patrol — it’s a lot, the admin side of it."
What are some challenges you expect to face as commissioner?
Coen said he will have to train a cohort of younger officers.
"We hired four new police officers last year, and we’re expecting to have a couple more retirements in January. A lot of the senior guys are retiring, so having a lot of new guys — them learning the area, them learning the job — that will be a challenge," Coen said. "It’s a new department in a sense where we’re smaller, so [it's] just getting used to that."
The Village of Old Brookville hired longtime police sergeant Michael Coen to replace outgoing police chief Christopher Walsh, who led the force through a downsizing.
Michael Coen, a former sergeant, succeeded Walsh on Sept. 30, Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba said. Walsh will remain a part-time consultant with the department, according to the village's website.
Coen has served with the department since 2010, including the past year as Walsh's deputy commanding officer. For years the Old Brookville police department had patrolled a total of six villages comprising 10,000 residents: Old Brookville, Brookville, Upper Brookville, Mill Neck, Matinecock and Cove Neck.
But in 2022, Old Brookville stopped patrolling the other villages after the municipalities failed to reach a new agreement for joint protection. Since June 1, 2022, Old Brookville has provided patrols exclusively for its own residents.
Old Brookville has a population of 2,020 and median household income of $188,092, according to U.S. census data.
The department, which was founded in 1949, has 13 officers. The village has been hiring younger officers as veteran police officers retire.
In a letter to residents, Ryba said the department "will begin a new chapter" under Coen. The 13-member department will evolve into a "younger force," Ryba said in the letter posted on the village's website.
From 2010 through 2019, Old Brookville averaged nearly 47 combined annual reports of larceny, burglary and motor vehicle thefts, according to data compiled by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. The figure dropped to 25 in 2022 and 13 total reports in 2023. The village saw a surge in motor vehicle thefts in 2020, when 18 vehicles were stolen. There were zero stolen vehicles in 2021, 12 in 2022 and five in 2023, according to the state data.
As chief, Walsh earned $296,417 in 2023, according to the state comptroller's office. Old Brookville officials declined to provide Coen's new salary. Newsday submitted a Freedom of Information Law request for the salary.
Walsh said he pitched village officials on Coen. He said he believes that small police departments should promote within for top leadership roles.
"He was the right pick to replace me," Walsh said in an interview. Over the past year and a half, Walsh said he "tried to show him everything he’d need to know going forward."
Coen, 47 of Locust Valley, spoke with Newsday about his law enforcement experience and new role. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
What is your background in law enforcement?
Coen said he served with the New York Police Department before joining the Old Brookville Police Department in 2010. "I graduated from the academy in 2003. I was a housing cop in Brooklyn until 2010, and then I got hired here," Walsh said. "In 2011, I went back to the NYPD for two years, and then I got rehired in 2013. Then, I’ve been here and got promoted in 2019 to sergeant."
What has the transition been like from sergeant to chief?
"For the last year, Chief Walsh made me his deputy," Coen said. "It was kind of like having double roles. I would be helping him with administrative stuff and learning the job, but I’d also still have to be on the road as a regular patrol supervisor."
What has Chief Walsh meant to you during that switch?
"He’s been great — a true professional," Coen said. "He was instrumental in the whole transition. He’s been showing me the ropes. It’s a much different job than patrol — it’s a lot, the admin side of it."
What are some challenges you expect to face as commissioner?
Coen said he will have to train a cohort of younger officers.
"We hired four new police officers last year, and we’re expecting to have a couple more retirements in January. A lot of the senior guys are retiring, so having a lot of new guys — them learning the area, them learning the job — that will be a challenge," Coen said. "It’s a new department in a sense where we’re smaller, so [it's] just getting used to that."
- The Village of Old Brookville hired longtime police sergeant Michael Coen to replace outgoing police chief Christopher Walsh.
- Old Brookville has provided patrols exclusively for its own residents since June 2022.
- Before that, the village police patrolled six villages that served 10,000 residents: Old Brookville, Brookville, Upper Brookville, Mill Neck, Matinecock and Cove Neck
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