New York’s top cop steps down

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Just hours before he tended his resignation, State Police Superintendent Joe D’Amico was lauded for his leadership and loyalty to the troopers that make up the long gray line known as the State Police.

At a ceremony for the changing of the guard at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, retiring Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York’s militia, heaped a load of praise on D’Amico.

“Joe, I have so appreciated your approach to emergency response and the immediacy of reactions and your ability to weigh what can be done and what doesn’t need to be done at any given time,” Murphy said. “I’ve watched you in so many different venues that I’ve learned from you and I want to say I really appreciate it. Even in a larger sense please pass back … every time I’m out and I see state troopers early on when we came into this thing I tell the troopers you have got no better advocate than Joe D’Amico, the current superintendent then you’ve ever had because he cares about what the troopers are doing and protecting them from some crazy things that we try to do from time to time. What they ended up with was truly someone in the state police that again professionalized the organization and the respect that they’re due is given and you’ve led that effort and it’s incredible. I so appreciate your friendship.”

Worrying about the ethics laws and receiving gifts above a certain amount, Murphy told a story with a wink and a nod towards violating the ethics laws.

“D’Amico brought over a trooper Stetson. I only saw him give it to one other person … I’m sure that Stetson only cost $15.”

There is much speculation as to why D’Amico, 56, stepped down but no one is giving a concrete, official answer. In a prepared statement, Governor Andrew Cuomo did not show any signs of discontent with D’Amico.

“I understand he has other needs to fulfill after nine years of service, and I wish him and his family well on this next chapter,” Cuomo wrote.

For his part, D’Amico said the past six years at the helm overseeing a workforce of 5,700 law enforcement personnel was gratifying.

“I look forward to pursuing other opportunities, but I will truly miss all of those I met along the way, including the members of the public who have always been supportive,” D’Amico wrote in a prepared statement approved by the Governor’s office.

There has never been a traditional pecking order for who is next in line to run the State police but succeeding D’Amico to command the State Police could be the first woman.