Suffolk Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter has opted out of becoming Southampton Village’s next police chief, officials said on Monday, just over a month after the board voted 4-1 to give him the job .
The lone no vote at the December 12 special session came from Mayor Jesse Warren, whose lack of support for Carter caused him to change his mind, according to a statement Monday on behalf of Southampton Village Deputy Mayor Gina Arresta and Trustees Robin Brown, Bill Manger and Roy Stevenson.
In an interview Monday, Arresta said Carter notified the trustees of his decision late Friday. Despite Warren’s opposition, the mayor initially said “he would support him,” Arresta said.
“But in the days after that he didn’t communicate with me [Carter] and then publicly he was critical and it was very embarrassing what happened… As Trustee and Deputy Mayor, I believe we did the best thing – and that Mr. Carter was the best choice. He was here to meet people in his spare time and the Southampton Village Police gave him their full support. They met him and it’s a real shame he won’t take over.”
Lt. Suzanne Hurteau will continue to serve as deputy director, Arresta said.
Carter’s appointment was scheduled to take effect March 13, pending a civil service exam. He was offered a five-year contract worth $225,000 a year, city officials said.
He was selected for the job more than a year after former Chief Thomas Cummings retired. Cummings agreed to retire in September 2021 with a payment of nearly $775,000 in unused sick and vacation time and lifetime health benefits for himself and his wife, in addition to an annual salary of nearly $250,000.
“Residents will have access to me,” Carter said in an interview at the December 12 meeting. He said he intends to “meet the residents and talk about the problems in the village and find solutions.”
Neither Carter nor Warren could be immediately reached for comment Monday.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison appointed Carter his deputy in February. Carter previously served as an NYPD inspector and spent 28 years with the department.
Arresta said of Carter, “I have nothing but praise for him. … But we need a police chief and now we have to start all over again. That certainly puts us in a bad position to move forward.”
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been recognized nationally by the Associated Press and the Society of the Silurians for investigative, entrepreneurial, current affairs and column writing, and is the author of Swee’pea, a book about the former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti can be seen in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film Big Shot.
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