Executive Board

I’ve been a member of the NYSHBCA since 2006. I started his career as a bay Constable for the Town of Smithtown and was there from 2004 to 2005. I’m a lifelong boater, I am a US Army and US Coast Guard veteran. In 2003 I retired from the NYPD.  

Since 2006 I’ve been a bay Constable for the towns of Smithtown; 2004-2005, North Hempstead; 2006-2010, Brookhaven; and Islip 2011-2012, and then back to Smithtown since 2013. 

During the 2010 season with the North Hempstead Harbor Patrol, I was involved in 2 notable incidents; a marine fire-fighting operation that saw the NHHP SAFE boat’s water cannon play a major role in suppressing a fire that consumed 2 waterfront houses from spreading to others.

Later that year I assisted in the rescue 3 people clinging to a dock after their sailboat was sunk by 80mph winds during a severe derecho squall front. That severe weather event also produced a tornado over Port Washington, which fortunately did not touch down.

Working for Islip in 2012, I was in the Islip Emergency Operations Center Harbor Police position, relaying storm damage and flooding reports from residents to the town and state officials. In the morning, I helped launch and crew the first law enforcement SAR mission on the Harbor Police SAFE boat. In the following days I was both crew and coxswain on many damage surveys of Islip waterways.  

In 2013 I returned to the Town of Smithtown as a bay Constable; I’m in my 10th season, 12 if you count all my time. I’ve been decorated by the Smithtown Department of Public Safety 4 times for rescues.

On August 25th, 2022, all bay Constables in Suffolk County, New York had their civil service title changed to Harbormaster. I liked the title of bay Constable; it had a retro vibe to it. But changes in NY State’s byzantine firearms laws made the civil service title change necessary for the towns.

I was fortunate to be mentored and trained by some real legends of the title; Senior Bay Constable and now Smithtown Harbormaster Pat Gilligan, Paul Hedger [former Smithtown Harbormaster] Harbormaster Mal Nathan, North Hempstead, and I’ve been fortunate to work alongside other experts like; Steve Somma [USCG vet] Vic Fuentes and Mike Green [all from North Hempstead], bay Constable Dale Petruska [East Hampton].

I’m especially grateful for the support and expertise given to me by my fellow Harbormasters at Smithtown. They are smartest, funniest, bravest, and most experienced Harbormasters I have ever worked with.

Proudly served Southampton Village Police Department from 1982, Detective 1989 until retirement in 2012. National Tactical Operators Association swat operator certified. Two term (4 years) Southampton Village PBA Treasurer. Assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office east end drug task force as a narcotics investigator (5 years). Assigned as an investigator with the US Marshals office New York / New Jersey regional fugitive task force, serving in several intermittent terms. Logistical assistant to US Secret service during Presidential / Vice Presidential visits to the Southampton NY area. 50 plus years of boating experience. 2016 / present, Harbormaster, Town of Smithtown, carrying out all marine patrol duties in our 160 square mile jurisdiction between Stony Brook Harbor and Kings Park’s Nissequogue river, due north until the Connecticut state line. Participated in numerous rescues, enforcement, maintenance operations throughout our jurisdiction. It has been a privilege in serving our residents as well as the members of this fine organization. “Your potential only reaches its limits where your thoughts end”.

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Ex-President Jeffrey Kropp’s maritime career started in 1990 when he joined the United States Coast Guard after graduating St. Dominic H.S. in Oyster Bay NY. His career in the Coast Guard continued in 1994 when he transitioned to the reserves and rose to the rank of Chief Machinery Technician before retiring from Station New York after 30 years of service. Some notable highlights include deployment into NYC after the attacks on 9/11 for Operation Enduring Freedom where he patrolled the waters with more than 300 reservists for 1 ½ years.  Two deployments for hurricane humanitarian efforts, and attended many schools and is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy.

He holds an associated degree in business.  For more than 26 years he has worked for the Town of Huntington Harbormasters office and currently holds the title of Sergeant. His duties include overseeing day to day operations while patrolling more than 90 miles of shoreline along with overseeing and organizing training for local and state agencies.  He is also a holder of a 50-ton masters Coast Guard license and a shareholding partner in the family business, A.R. Kropp Co. and Sons Library Furnishings.  He would like to thank his wife and four children, friends and shipmates for guidance and support over his career.

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” - President John F. Kennedy

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