Town Police Chief Appointment May Be Clouded By Politics

The top position in the Southampton Police Department is up for grabs, and two longtime local law enforcement officers, Town Police Captain Anthony Tenaglia, and Southampton Village Police Chief William Wilson Jr., have emerged as the two contenders—and the decision might boil down to politics.

Capt. Tenaglia—who was widely seen as the presumptive successor to Police Chief James P. Overton, who is retiring tomorrow, April 15, after more than four decades of service—interviewed with the Southampton Town Board for the chief’s spot last Friday during an executive session meeting of the Town Board.

But on Monday, an email signed by Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, Councilwoman Bridget Fleming and Councilman Jim Malone was sent to the entire Town Board announcing their intention to interview Chief Wilson for the job on Friday, April 15, in a hastily called special meeting, which will include a closed executive session. “Please be advised that upon full consideration, we are supporting inviting Chief Wilson in to interview for the Town Police Chief position,” the email reads. “It is our collective opinion this will serve in the best interest of the Town by engaging in a fully transparent and equal opportunity screening process.”

Hours later, a public notice was emailed scheduling the special meeting instead for Tuesday, at which Chief Wilson was interviewed. It was advanced from Friday to Tuesday, Ms. Throne-Holst explained, because Ms. Fleming would be out of town on Friday.

Councilwoman Nancy Graboski said this week she was surprised by the email. The initial note alarmed Ms. Graboski, who on Tuesday speculated that something was politically amiss; she declined to flesh out her thoughts, but she noted that they were based on “rumors” confirmed by more than one source. She also said she believed that Chief Wilson was the Town Patrolmen’s Benevolence Association pick for the job.

“There are things going on behind the scenes, shall we say,” Ms. Graboski said.

Ms. Graboski said Chief Wilson was supported by the town’s PBA, the police union that in prior years has hit walls in negotiations with administrations, but which has supported Ms. Throne-Holst politically. Union President Tim O’Flaherty did not immediately return a call seeking comment and was not expected to be available until Friday.

Ms. Throne-Holst was credited with brokering contract negotiations last summer with the union, which avoided the need for arbitration, resulting in potential taxpayer savings in the contract. Ms. Throne-Holst received the PBA endorsement in her bid for supervisor in 2009.

Ms. Graboski said her concerns also centered on whether Mr. Malone, a member of the Conservative Party, was being politically driven to push for Chief Wilson to be interviewed. Ms. Graboski also said she was perplexed to get a letter from Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco in support of Chief Wilson’s candidacy for the town position. That letter was received by Town Board members on April 6.

“They’re big law enforcement,” Ms. Graboski said. “The Town of Southampton is smaller. The village is smallest. So if big law enforcement is supporting Bill Wilson in that regard, why is that? And I don’t know that. I don’t know the answer to that question.”

Mr. Malone rejected the notion that he was being politically driven in any one direction. “It’s anything but political,” he said.

Ms. Fleming, Ms. Throne-Holst and Mr. Malone all said this week that they were interested in interviewing Chief Wilson in an effort to keep all options open for what they view as a very important decision. Members of the Town Board held their cards close to the vest this week about their thoughts on the qualifications of each officer

“I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing,” Mr. Malone said. “This is not a quick, fast and easy decision for me. Absolutely not. It’s probably one of the most weighted decisions I’ll make in office this term. I’m totally serious. It’s because I ask so many men and women to put themselves in harm’s way every day that I understand the weight of this decision.”

Ms. Throne-Holst echoed that sentiment this week, noting that she was interested in making sure that with a position of the chief’s magnitude, the process should be a “fair, transparent, and inclusionary equal opportunity process.”

Ms. Fleming said that while Capt. Tenaglia was a highly qualified officer, it’s important to look at all potential candidates. “He’s obviously a very experienced, very skilled member of the police department,” Ms. Fleming said of the captain. “At the same time, this is an opportunity to look at anyone who might be qualified.”

The board must soon decide on whether it will extend the state civil service test for the position to Capt. Tenaglia only, or to the lieutenants of the town’s police force, and possibly even further down the ranks, Ms. Throne-Holst said. The test date would be sometime later this year. Any appointment to the position of someone who does not already hold the rank of chief—like Capt. Tenaglia—would be provisional until the test was taken, she said. Chief Wilson would not have to take the test, Ms. Throne-Holst said, because he is already ranked chief.

Mr. Malone said the board might come to a decision on who to hire by Friday, but whether an actual appointment would be made was unclear at this point.

Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi did not return calls seeking comment this week.

Both Chief Wilson and Capt. Tenaglia said this week they felt it was improper to discuss in depth their interest in the position, citing the pending Town Board decisions.

Capt. Tenaglia, 58, joined the Town Police Department in 1975 as a radio operator, became a part-time police officer the following year, and then rose through the ranks to become a captain in 1990. He has served as Chief Overton’s executive officer for the past two decades.

“Right now,” he said, “until they determine who’s going to be the chief, I really don’t want to comment, as far as the position itself. I think it would be out of place.”

When asked about possible political factors at play, the captain replied, “Hopefully, the only thing that would play a factor is my past service to the Town of Southampton.”

Chief Wilson, 46, also said he preferred to leave the commenting up to the board, but added: “It’s an outstanding law enforcement agency, and at this point in my career I’m just always looking for new challenges.”

Chief Wilson was hired by the village in 1989 and rose to the rank of chief in 2006. Town and police officials spoke positively about Chief Overton’s long career this week.

Chief Wilson earns an annual base salary of $176,927, according to village records—more than Chief Overton, who earns a salary of $166,661, according to town records. When asked why he was interested in seeking a job for which he could receive a lower salary, Chief Wilson replied, “I’m not in this profession for the money. I’m in this profession because I love law enforcement.”

Capt. Tenaglia described the atmosphere at headquarters this week as one of “sadness” and described Chief Overton as a “hard worker” and a “very fair man.”

“He was an extremely hardworking chief of police, and he had no personal agenda. The only thing he wanted to do was be fair to all the people of the Town of Southampton, he had no personal agenda, no political agenda, he was just a good police chief,” he said.

Southampton Police Lieutenant Lawrence Schurek described him as “tremendous administrator” who cared about his department. “I think we’re losing a great man,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say.”

Mr. Malone said he knew the chief from elementary school, when Chief Overton was the Police Athletic League basketball coach in Westhampton. “I’ve always admired his dedication to the community,” he said.