By Jeff Lipton
Inspector Frank Matzen, who started his career walking a foot post in Inwood in 1967 and rose through the ranks to become the commanding officer of the Fourth Precinct, said he will retire at the end of the year.
Taking his place will be Inspector George Gudmundsen, most recently the commanding officer of the Nassau County Police Academy.
Although he will officially retire in January, Inspector Matzen's last day at the Fourth Precinct will be on Friday, October 27, so that he can use his accrued vacation time. He has been commander of the Fourth Precinct for eight years. Inspector Gudmundsen will begin his new job on Monday, October 30, he said.
"I think he will be a good fit within the community," Inspector Matzen said. "I hold him in the utmost regard in terms of his abilities to deal with problems in the Fourth Precinct. I'm also pleased that I've had a couple of weeks' opportunity to help him with the transition."
Inspector Matzen, 55, of Oceanside, said he has "ambivalent" feelings about leaving the Fourth Precinct, which takes in the Five Towns, Atlantic Beach, Oceanside, Island Park, East Rockaway, Lido Beach and Point Lookout.
"I'm leaving something that I really loved doing for the last 34 years," said Inspector Matzen. "It's been a big part of my life and I'm looking forward to a new life of adventure and spending more time with my family over here and in Florida." He plans to relocate with his wife Meredith to eastern Long Island, after spending 32 years in Oceanside.
"What I'll miss the most are the people here throughout the community," he added. "It's a solid community of residents who treated me extremely well during my tenure here. The last eight years have been the highlight of my career, spending it at the Fourth Precinct."
He said the men and women assigned to the Fourth probably will experience "some anxiety," which is normal when there is change of leadership in a command. "But once they get to know Inspector Gudmundsen, they will feel comfortable with him at the helm."
Inspector Gudmundsen, 46, of Northport, said he is "delighted" to be returning to the patrol division after spending the last three and a half years at the police academy.
Out of the 25 years that he has served in the Nassau County Police Department, 17 years have been spent in the patrol division. He has worked in five of the eight county precincts, and eight years ago was sent to police headquarters, where he worked as deputy commanding officer or commanding officer of the communications bureau, records and personnel and accounting bureaus.
He has been working with Inspector Matzen the last few weeks, becoming acquainted with the issues affecting the Fourth.
"It's an area with a diverse population that has enjoyed a good rapport and relationship with the police department over the years," Inspector Gudmundsen said. "I will work to continue to provide the excellent police services to the communities of the Fourth. I've been very fortunate to be able to work with Inspector Matzen."
Inspector Matzen was honored earlier this year by the Oceanside Kiwanis Club as its Man of the Year.
"I hope to be able to meet the high standards that my predecessors set here," Inspector Gudmundsen said. "I haven't really looked at the specifics of what I'd do here, but the bottom line is the service to the community. That's my main thrust, to provide excellent police service to the community."
"I see vibrant commercial areas and beautiful residential areas in the Fourth," he said. "I look forward to serving all the different communities, the ethnic and religious communities, that are part of the Fourth."
Inspector Matzen launched his career as a patrolmen in 1967 in the Fourth, walking a beat on Lawrence Avenue in Inwood and then driving a patrol car in Hewlett and Woodmere. He was promoted to sergeant in 1973 and transferred to another command. He served in various precincts until 1992, when he returned to the Fourth as a deputy inspector for a year. He then was promoted to a full inspector, a position he has held since.
"I'm certainly going to miss him," said Sy Glass, president of the Woodmere Merchants Association. "He has been a big help to this community. He has always been responsive to the calls and needs of the community."
