The City of Glen Cove marked a historic transition this month as Police Chief William F. Whitton retired after 41 years of service, including 18 years as head of the department. His retirement is especially significant for a department that has had only nine chiefs since the city’s founding.
Within hours of Whitton’s ceremonial walkout on Nov. 14, Deputy Chief Christopher Ortiz, a lifelong Glen Cove resident, was sworn in as the city’s 10th chief of police.
At a special City Council meeting on Nov. 18, Ortiz was unanimously appointed and sworn in. Whitton addressed the council, reflecting on the rarity of the moment. “In the history of Glen Cove, there have only been 10 chiefs, and that’s something to be proud of,” he said. Whitton added that he and Ortiz spent more than a decade “traveling and training together,” time that revealed Ortiz’s character. “I know Chris to be highly intelligent, with a great moral compass, loyal and logical, and he has the attributes needed to succeed in this job. I know he will take this place to greater heights.”
Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck praised both men. “I never have to worry when it comes to our Police Department,” she said. “They handle every situation with expertise and calm, and when Chris says he’s taking care of something, he does. I’m grateful to serve as mayor during this moment, and we fully support you. Thank you for taking on this responsibility, and for keeping Glen Cove safe.”
Panzenbeck added that the city “commends Chief Whitton for his years of extraordinary service, and proudly supports Chief Ortiz as he leads the department forward.”
For Ortiz, 52, who grew up in Glen Cove, a future in law enforcement was not always a given. After graduating from Glen Cove High School, he attended John Jay College, unsure of his career path. A friend majoring in criminal justice spoke enthusiastically about policing, which sounded to Ortiz like a field in which he could make a difference.
Not everyone agreed, however. His father, José Ortiz, an immigrant who worked factory jobs near Garvies Point in the 1980s, worried about the risks. But Chris moved ahead and took both the New York City and Glen Cove civil service exams. The NYPD accepted him first, and then, just two weeks after he graduated from its six-month academy program, he got a call from the Glen Cove department. He completed the Nassau County Police Academy training, and began his career as a patrol officer in his hometown.
The job changed the way he viewed the community. “Seeing how much the police are involved with people, whether it be handling domestic violence calls, helping people who are lost — whatever it is — there are a lot of officers in this city who do have involvement,” he told the Herald in 2023. “When you actually become a police officer here, you try to really make an impression on people’s lives.”
Ortiz continued his education alongside his police work. He earned a master’s from Long Island University in 2001, and was promoted to sergeant in 2006. He completed his Ph.D. in criminal justice at John Jay and taught courses in police conduct and psychology at the New York Institute of Technology.
In 2012 he was promoted to lieutenant, and later attended the FBI National Academy, a highly selective leadership program. He was named deputy chief in 2015.
Beyond policing, Ortiz has been active in community programs. He served as president of the Glen Cove football and cheerleading organizations and helped establish a mentoring program through the Glen Cove Youth Bureau to connect officers with local teens.
His policing expertise gained international attention as well. Four years ago, he was invited by the Armenian National Police to help modernize their law enforcement structure. While in Yerevan, the country’s capital, Ortiz noticed a park bench in which someone had carved the names of two Black American women who had died in shootings, Breonna Taylor and Renisha McBride. Taylor, a medical worker, was shot by police officers who forced their way into her apartment. “Sometimes police violence and police misconduct can have repercussions and ripples around the world,” Ortiz said.
At last week’s meeting, Councilman John Zozzaro who has known Ortiz since high school, said that no one was more deserving of the appointment. Councilwoman Marsha Silverman thanked him for his years of collaboration, and Councilman Kevin Maccarone called his vote to appoint Ortiz “an absolute honor.”
In his remarks, Ortiz thanked his family, including his 86-year-old father, who had long hoped to witness this milestone. He also paid emotional tribute to Whitton, saying he “taught me basically everything.”
“To the people of Glen Cove, thank you for entrusting me in this important position,” Ortiz said. “I will never let you down, I promise you that.”
