Kiernan on the Short List for Town Police Chief in Southampton, but Negotiations Still Underway

It’s been six weeks since the Southampton Town Police Department lost its chief. Steven Skrynecki’s battle with cancer ended in October, and the question has become, “Who can lead the department now?”

Captain James Kiernan, who wore two hats — stepping in for the chief when he was too ill, plus handling his own regular duties — seems to be in line to succeed him. According to insiders, negotiations between the town and Kiernan are ongoing, and have been for weeks.

But it’s not a done deal.

Compensation appears to be a sticking point. Skrynecki was making $326,741, including benefits, according to the adopted budget for 2022, his last year. That same budget lists Kiernan’s pay, inclusive of benefits at $313,718.

The 2023 budget, adopted just last week, lists the anticipated chief’s pay at $333,740, with the captain’s salary plus benefits at $330,456. That’s a difference of $3,284.

Both budgets list employee compensation for the chief position, but Skrynecki received pension and benefits from his years with Nassau County Police, so his base salary of $269,457 listed in the 2022 budget was more applicable. The adopted 2023 budget includes benefits totaling $56,112 under the chief line. Under the captain position, benefits are listed as $116,182 in the 2023 budget, added to a base salary of $194,863.

Suffolk County Civil Service oversees required tests for police positions. In recent years, Kiernan took and scored No. 1 on tests during chief searches in Westhampton Beach Village and Southampton Village. Southampton Village has been without a named chief for over a year. In Westhampton Beach, Steven McManus was named chief soon after his predecessor left.

There are different types of tests, depending on the specific office. Kiernan took tests labeled Type A and Type B for the village positions. To secure the position of town chief, he’d need to take a different test, labeled Type C.

The tests can also be made specific, if there’s an individual in mind. They can be opened up calling for a statewide search, or set criteria that limits the eligibility field. For example, only someone who’s achieved a particular rank can apply to take it. If the town wanted to open the test and state one must have achieved the rank of captain to take it, Kiernan would be part of a very small pool.

In the meantime, with the Suffolk County website down, Kiernan said he wrote “snail mail” to officials, asking if the tests he took previously could stand for the position of Southampton Town chief. A letter in response told him no.

Past practice in Southampton allowed for chiefs to be appointed and take the test at a later date. The town could call for a test specifically for Kiernan after a provisional appointment.

He said he met with all five members of the Town Board about a month ago, and it seemed like he was their choice. However, according to Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, negotiations are ongoing.

“We’re still negotiating and seeing if we can arrive at a mutually agreeable compensation package,” the supervisor said. “Hopefully, we will. The package we will offer is quite good, above industry standards. If we still can’t agree, we’ll have to consider other options.”

Schneiderman declined to articulate what those options might be.

According to the town’s PBA website, the Southampton Town Police Department was officially founded in 1951. Today, the website history states, the Southampton Town Police Department is the largest law enforcement agency on the East End of Long Island and, with 102 members, one of the largest Town Police Departments in New York State.