Dale tapped as top cop in Nassau County

A chief of the New York City Police Department has been chosen as the next Nassau County Police Commissioner, County Executive Edward Mangano announced in a press release Dec. 5.

Thomas Dale, a resident of Nassau County and the current Chief of Personnel in the NYPD, has been selected to take on the position vacated by Lawrence Mulvey, who retired as commissioner in April. Thomas Krumpter has served as Active Commissioner while Mangano’s office conducted a search for a replacement.

Dale, one of only eight three-star chiefs in the NYPD, would assume command on Jan. 2 if approved by the county legislature.

“Dale has spent a lifetime keeping our region safe from petty criminals to terror suspects,” said Mangano in a press release. “He has the valuable experience and distinguished record necessary to lead the Nassau County Police Department.”

Mangano’s announcement comes shortly after the New York State Inspector General released a report detailing systemic problems evident in the County’s Forensic Evidence Bureau. According to the report, more than 10 percent of the crime lab’s results had inconsistencies in testing and indicated that its failures were an inherent result of a lack of management and oversight by the police department and the county.

“From operations to performance management on the streets and problems highlighted in the Inspector General’s investigation of the crime laboratory, the Nassau County Police Department is at a crossroads and will benefit from Tom’s experience and leadership,” Mangano said in the statement.

As Chief of Personnel, Dale is currently responsible for 52,000 employees and has served previously as Assistant Chief in Queens County, during which the county saw a reduction of 17 percent in major crime.

“I thank County Executive Mangano for this opportunity to serve the people of Nassau County and lead one of the nations’ best and brightest law enforcement agencies,” Dale said in the release. “Nassau County is one of the safest large counties in the nation and I will work tirelessly to ensure it stays that way because I live here too.”

The Nassau County Police Department’s Public Information Office did not have any comment regarding the hiring by Monday afternoon.