STONY BROOK, N.Y., October 29, 2008 – Robert J. Lenahan has been appointed Chief of Police at Stony Brook University, announced President Shirley Strum Kenny. Lenahan, a 26-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, most recently served as Director of Campus Emergency Management for Stony Brook University. He brings his extensive experience as a troubleshooter in law enforcement, security, and crisis management to further fortify and oversee the Stony Brook University Main Campus, Research & Development Park, Manhattan Campus and Southampton Campus.

Robert J. Lenahan

As Chief, Lenahan will head up the University Police Department, which consists of 162 employees, 74 of whom are sworn officers. He is also charged with upholding the mission of the Department, which is to work with all campus community members to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment.

“Bob brings a unique and powerful combination of experience to the office of Chief of University Police,” said President Kenny. “He will build on the tradition of sustaining a safe and caring campus utilizing his expertise in community policing and emergency preparedness, with an emphasis on education and communication.”

 “Robert Lenahan served the nation’s biggest and best police department with dedication and distinction for over a quarter of a century. He helped drive crime to record lows before his retirement from the NYPD earlier this year as a deputy inspector,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. “Our loss is Stony Brook’s gain, and we wish him and the great campus community there only the best in the years and months ahead.”

Since joining Stony Brook in February 2008 as Director of Campus Emergency Management, Lenahan has worked to unify emergency management planning, which further expands and refines the emergency and safety capabilities of an already safe campus. He continued the development and implementation of a University-wide comprehensive security and emergency management program that began in September 2001.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Stony Brook University Police Department, and plan to utilize my experience to build on a dynamic and well respected organization,” said Lenahan. “With a solid infrastructure already in place, we are in an excellent position to become a model for campus law enforcement,” said Lenahan.

“After an extensive search and review of several outstanding candidates, our search committee was pleased to recommend an individual of Robert Lenahan’s caliber for the job,” said John Gallagher, Stony Brook University Council Member, Search Committee Member, and Retired Suffolk County Police Commissioner. “I believe he will be able to carry the University Police Department to a very high level of excellence.”

As a member of the NYPD, Lenahan gained extensive experience in the areas of community policing and emergency management. He reached the rank of Deputy Inspector and was designated Commanding Officer of the 25th Precinct in Manhattan in 2003, and then the 32nd Precinct in Manhattan in 2006 where he oversaw a staff of 300 and took part in citywide analysis of current crime trends and implemented crime reduction strategies. He was assigned to the 2004 Republican National Convention, where his responsibilities included dignitary protection, liaison with federal agencies and utilization of advanced security measures.

 “During his 26 years with the New York City Police Department, Chief Lenahan gained the respect and admiration of his peers and of the community,” said Raymond Diaz, Assistant Chief and Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North. “He has served with distinction in some of the most challenging and sensitive precincts in the city, having commanded precincts in East Harlem and Central Harlem, leading both in record crime reductions. The Stony Brook campus community will surely benefit from his experience and leadership.”

Lenahan also served within the NYPD as Captain and Executive Officer of the 30th Precinct in Washington Heights, Manhattan, from 2000 to 2003, where he was Coordinator for “Operation Crack Down,” an initiative combating narcotics activity. During that time he was also assigned to a detail which was responsible for maintaining the security perimeter at the World Trade Center post 9/11.

Lenahan is a 2006 graduate of the Police Management Institute of Columbia University, a Business School Program in advanced leadership, business theory, economics and organizational behavior. Among awards received as a member of the NYPD, he received a 9/11 Accommodation Award, a Community Policing Award, 12 Excellent Police Duty Awards, eight Meritorious Police Duty Awards, and four Medal of Accommodation Awards.

Chief Lenahan is 47 years-old and lives in Commack with his wife, Maureen and their two daughters, Ashley (14) and Kacey (12).

-30-