Nassau police commissioner announces retirement

Thomas Krumpter, Nassau County’s acting police commissioner, is stepping down and retiring from police work, County Executive Ed Mangano announced on Monday.

"Commissioner Krumpter has led the Nassau County Police Department with honor and distinction during a challenging time for law enforcement - not only here in Nassau County but throughout the nation,” said Mangano. “From the fiscal constraints demanded by homeowners to balancing public safety and the war on heroin and terror, Commissioner Krumpter has streamlined back office operations to protect taxpayers while maintaining the number of police officers assigned to patrol and bolstering special units.”

In his two decades-plus with the department, Krumpter helped Nassau “lead the way” with fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic and removing illegal firearms from the streets, according to Mangano.

According to Mangano, crime in the county is down 27 percent since 2009, with a 50 percent decrease in residential burglaries and 37 percent decrease in robberies, for which he gave credit both to Krumpter and his own administration.

“Commissioner Krumpter and I have long credited brave men and women of the [department] for their success in reducing crime,” he said. “Their efforts have been assisted by intelligence-led policing models, computers in patrol vehicles, license plate readers and the Shot Spotter system.”

Mangano will promote Deputy Commissioner Patrick Ryder to Krumpter’s post, where he will serve for the time being as acting commissioner. Ryder has led the department’s intelligence unit, which shares much of the credit for the county’s decrease in crime, according to Mangano.”

“With special units becoming ever-demanding due to global terror threats, Acting Commissioner Ryder will continue to pave the way for a bolstered police force that includes 150 additional police officers, 911 operators, Ambulance Medical Technicians and the formation of special units,” said Mangano.

“I thank [Krumpter] for this service and dedication to the Nassau County Police Department and wish him much success in his future endeavors,” he added.

District Attorney Madeline Singas weighed in on Krumpter’s retirement on Monday, saying, “I am grateful for [Krumpter's] dedicated leadership of our outstanding police force and it's been a great privilege to work with him to keep the people of Nassau County safe. All of us in the District Attorney's office wish him the very best in his retirement.”