By Y.M. Lowy

James Fay was officially sworn in this morning as the new chief of the Clarkstown Police Department during a ceremony held at Clarkstown Town Hall.

Supervisor George Hoehmann and members of the Town Board joined family, friends, law enforcement officials, and community members for the event.

Fay takes over the department after serving with the Clarkstown Police Department for 32 years. Throughout his time with the department, Fay worked in narcotics and organized crime investigations, including assignments with the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force and the Anti-Crime Unit. He later helped establish and lead the department’s Street Crime Unit. He also served in the Juvenile Aid Bureau, handling cases involving family court matters and crimes against children.

Fay was also among the law enforcement responders at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks and spent more than a decade as a member of the department’s Critical Incident Response Team.

Over the years, he supervised patrol operations, field training, and special operations divisions including K-9, Traffic, and Anti-Crime units. In addition to his law enforcement work, Fay also held leadership roles within the Clarkstown Policemen’s Benevolent Association and most recently served as Operations Captain, overseeing Patrol, Detectives, and Special Operations.

A lifelong member of the community, Fay has also been involved locally through organizations including the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Rockland.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Fay addressed the crowd and thanked those who supported him throughout his career as he officially began his new role leading the department.