County Executive Names Patrick Ryder New NCPD Commissioner

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced she looks to appoint Patrick Ryder as the Nassau County Police Department's next commissioner at a press conference on Wednesday.

"He has proven himself a great leader since he was appointed acting commissioner in July, just six months ago," Curran said.

Curran said that crime rates in Nassau County have gone down, and continue to do so under Ryder's leadership. Overtime within the department has also gone down under Ryder, Curran says.

"We are a department that has one goal: to keep or communities, neighborhoods and residents safe," Ryder said. "I will ensure that the department's effective and dedicated cops are held up to the highest standards."

Ryder will be considered for the position by the Nassau County legislature at a February meeting.

However, Ryder has already announced his first initiative alongside Curran and county legislators.

"In response to the County Executive's current desire to continue to strengthen our neighborhood policing, I have notified the department that beginning immediately, we will put together our first Commissioner's Community Council (CCC)."

The CCC, made up of three nominated members from each of the 19 legislative districts, will work to create closer ties with their communities. "By taking these areas into smaller pockets, we're going to have a bigger outreach into our community than we've ever had before," Ryder said.

Ryder says he will also confront the opioid crisis and gang issues in Nassau County with the CCC.

Ryder has been with the Nassau County Police Department for 32 years and in law enforcement for nearly 35 years. Before that, he served with the New York Police Department's 79th Precinct for two years, according to the department's website. He joined the NCPD's Bureau of Special Operations in 1988 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1995. He was assigned to the Fifth precinct until 1997 when he was designated a Detective Sergeant and assigned to the Eighth Squad. He joined the Asset Forfeiture Bureau as Deputy Commanding Officer in 2000 and was designated the title of Commanding Officer of the Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence unit in 2008.

Ryder has a Master's Degree in Homeland Security and Management. He has been married for 28 years and has three children, Liam, Sean and Meghan.

Image via NYPD Foundation on Twitter