Haverstraw Police Chief Peter Murphy Announces Retirement
The Town of Haverstraw would like to announce the Retirement of Chief Peter Murphy after 36 years of distinguished service.
Chief Murphy was appointed as a Police Officer by the Village of Haverstraw Police Department on February 29, 1988. On January 6, 1997, He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and then assigned as Administrative Sergeant on March 21, 2005, where he remained in that role until the Village of Haverstraw Police Department consolidated into the Town of Haverstraw Police Department. During his time with the Village of Haverstraw Police Department, he started the Department’s Child Passenger Safety Seat Program, and served as President and Vice President of the PBA. As Administrative Sergeant, Chief Murphy was involved in facilitating the merger between the Village and Town Police Departments.
In 2006, after the merge was complete, He resumed his duties as a Patrol Sergeant until his promotion to Patrol Lieutenant on October 14, 2008. During his time as Lieutenant, he was given the assignment of updating and creating standards, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in order for the Town of Haverstraw Police Department to become a New York State Accredited Agency, A title that is only held by 165 out of over 500 Police Departments in the State of New York.
On June 24, 2017, he was appointed Provisional Chief and made permanent on June 25, 2018. During his time as Chief, working alongside the Haverstraw Town Board, he oversaw adding an additional K9, started a drone unit, returning School Resource Officers back to North Rockland High School and Fieldstone Secondary School, creating a Digital Evidence management Unit to assist the District Attorneys Office with prosecution of arrested suspects, implemented foot patrols in the downtown business district, and navigated the Department through the Covid pandemic and bail reform.
Members of the Town of Haverstraw Police Department would like to thank Chief Murphy for his leadership, guidance, knowledge, and friendship for the past 36 years and wish him the best of luck on his well-deserved retirement.
