What you should know
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison is resigning from his position leading the Long Island department after nearly two years on the job, which included the arrest of a suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial murder case. Harrison joined the department in late 2021 from the New York City Police Department, where he served as department chief. The commissioner is the first African-American leader in the history of the Suffolk County Police Department.
NEW YORK — Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison is resigning as head of the Long Island department after nearly two years on the job, which included the arrest of a suspect in serial murder case from Gilgo Beach.
Harrison joined the department in late 2021 from the New York City Police, where he served as department chief.
The commissioner is the first African-American leader in the history of the Suffolk County Police Department.
“For the past two years, Commissioner Rodney Harrison has led the Suffolk County Police Department with honor, integrity and distinction,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said in a statement. “Because of his efforts, our communities are safer, the department is safer.” More equitable, responsible, transparent and meaningful relationships have been fostered with our diverse communities.
Harrison’s first act in his new job was to tour the site where the Gilgo Beach victims were found. Harrison also established the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force.
The suspect in the case, Rex Heuermann, was arrested in July and charged with multiple counts of murder.
“On the day I nominated Commissioner Harrison for office, December 14, 2021, I specifically cited the Gilgo Beach serial murder case as a top priority,” Bellone said. “He said Commissioner Harrison would ‘leverage his extensive investigative experience on this case and work with our federal, state and local partners to help bring closure for the victims and their families.'”
At the NYPD, Harrison rose rapidly in his final years at the department, becoming chief of patrol in January 2018, chief of detectives in December 2019, and chief of department in February 2021. Harrison was the first chief of black department detectives. in the history of the NYPD.
2023-11-03 16:30:08
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