For Saugerties Police Chief Robert Nuzzo, the job is a kind of homecoming. Nuzzo has been a police officer for 33 year with the New York State Police. Most of his career was in Ulster County, as a trooper, a sergeant and a lieutenant. After a short stint as a lieutenant in another area, he returned to Ulster County, he said.
Nuzzo spoke at a village board meeting on Monday, March 4, after a bit more than two months on the job.
Nuzzo served as a lieutenant in Ulster and Greene counties, and was promoted to captain. He has also worked in Albany and Columbia counties, he said. “As a captain here, I turned down major four times because I enjoyed working in the district where I lived.
Nuzzo later worked at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston. “I had a great opportunity to work there, and just last summer there were a few phone calls back and forth with various people encouraging me to get involved,” he said.
After leaving the State Police, Nuzzo said, he was encouraged to become more involved in the community. This led to his appointment as chief of police in Saugerties. Nuzzo praised the officers in the Saugerties Police Department. “They understand that the Sheriff’s Department and the State Police work in this area … but the last thing they would say is ‘give it to the sheriff, give it to the troopers because they have pride in what they’re doing.”
Nuzzo stressed the importance of visibility. “I’m very very big on patrols stopping in schools, stopping in places of worship, being visible. I want th
e public to see a police officer. That instills confidence in the police department and it gives the public the sense of public safety that they deserve. It’s the number-one message I’ve preached to these guys since I’ve been here.”
Nuzzo said that he has talked to the mayor and “we’re trying to get some patrols back. We’re down. The question people are asking, ‘what are we going to do to get people to join the Saugerties Police Department?’ I have two officers ready to leave, one for Greene County and one for the City of Kingston.”
Nuzzo emphasized that he is trying to attract officers to the department, and noted that the town board would be voting on approval of an officer at its next meeting. “When we get to the staffing that I want and are authorized to have, you’ll see foot patrols regularly,” Nuzzo said. He asked that board members reach out to him if they needed anything from the police.
Mayor Bill Murphy commented that Nuzzo’s past connection with the State Police would be helpful in his work with the Saugerties police, and that he had noticed a greater presence of State Police since Nuzzo was appointed. “I preach to these guys don’t hesitate to call the State Police or the sheriff for assistance,” said Nuzzo. “I talk to the State Police and I talk to the sheriff.”
Compared to other parts of the state, Nuzzo said “there’s nothing like the relationships in Ulster County. I’ve worked in various parts; I spent a lot of time across the river, too. Dutchess County is pretty good, but in other parts of the state it’s really sad. [In Ulster County] I can pick up the phone and call the sheriff; the sheriff can pick up the phone if he needs something from Saugerties. The State Police the same thing.”
Nuzzo said the Saugerties Police Department is authorized to have 25 officers. The department currently has 17-18, counting himself. “We are hiring one, and we have several part timers.”
A police presence in the schools has given a sense of security, said trustee Vincent Buono. In addition, the school resource officer, Travis Winchell is doing a great job, Murphy said.
Nuzzo praised his predecessors, Lou Barbaria and Joseph Sinagra, saying they both “did a lot to bring the Saugerties Police Department to a level, and I hope to take it to another level.”
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