Peekskill Police Chief Retires After 44 Years on Force
Before he received a lengthy standing ovation in the City Hall chambers, Peekskill Police Chief Eugene Tumolo was handed a box of donuts from a well-wisher prior to the Common Council meeting, a small gesture he appreciated from a member of the community he enjoyed serving for 44 years.
“It was a dream for me. Every day was a different challenge,” Tumolo said, reflecting on his long career in Peekskill, a career that officially came to a close January 2. “This is somewhat bittersweet but it’s been a wonderful experience. At times it’s been exhilarating. Other times it’s been very sad. It goes with the territory. It’s been an incredible ride. It’s time to turn the lights off.”
Tumolo, 68, a grandfather of six, joined the Peekskill Police Department in October 1968. In 1994, he became police chief.
“Most of us don’t remember when Chief Tumolo wasn’t a member of the Peekskill Police Department,” said Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster. “He really dedicated himself to policing and criminal justice. I know you’re going to be missed.”
Proudly stressing a drop in crime in the city over the last four decades, Tumolo conceded it was difficult trying to convince outsiders Peekskill was a safe community.
“Trying to overcome the stigma that was so ill deserved was difficult,” he said. “We weren’t going to accept second best. We wanted to do everything we could to clean up the streets. Now you can drive downtown on a Friday or Saturday night and see the restaurants full. I’d like to take some of that credit. We set goals and we set objectives. It took a lot of planning.”
Tumolo said he knew it was time to turn in his badge when “it was more difficult getting those 3 a.m. calls,” adding society has become “a lot less tolerant.”
“This community is on its way up. It’s a renaissance,” he said, noting he planned to do some wood working, hunting and consulting work in his retirement years. “To learn what public service really is has enriched my life. It’s been an absolute honor to have served.”
The Common Council appointed Lieutenant Eric Johansen, 42, as the acting police chief for a 60-day period, a vote Foster abstained from without an explanation. She did say the Council planned on conducting an internal review of the Police Department.
“I think we’re all looking forward to working through the process and see what our long-term goals are for the Police Department as a whole,” Councilwoman Marybeth McGowan said.
The Council recently enacted legislation requiring the police chief to live within the city’s borders. Johansen currently lives in Cortlandt but reportedly has indicated he would relocate to neighboring Peekskill if named the permanent police chief.
“Eric, I know he will do a great job,” Tumolo said of Johansen. “He’s been very loyal to me and he’s a wonderful police officer.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/