Trazino returns to his roots as Tuxedo Police Chief

TUXEDO – John Trazino proudly broke into his hometown of the Greenwood Lake Police Department in the summer of 2001.

A few months later, the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred and Trazino was offered a position with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

“I wanted to get involved in the war on terror and do some undercover work, which I did (with the sheriff's office),” Trazino said.

After an impressive career with the sheriff's office, Trazino is back close to home, serving as police chief for the town of Tuxedo and benefitting from “community” policing.

“It doesn't make sense to learn all these things and put them on a shiny object on a shelf,” said Trazino, who was named Tuxedo police chief in October 2022. He graduated from high school George F. Baker. in a tuxedo. “I think I can always be of service and I love that you can walk into a coffee shop and people say, 'Hey, boss.' My goal has always been to take expertise and training from the county and bring it back to the local level.

Trazino served with the Sheriff's Office for over 22 years, retiring as a Special Operations Group (SOG) team leader. The SOG consists of SWAT operators who provide support to the Criminal Division, Corrections Division, and local law enforcement using capabilities ranging from the execution of high-risk warrants and active shooter incidents to cell extractions and crowd control. SOG staff provide training to other police agencies and also provide risk assessment and training to places of worship, schools and businesses.

During his tenure with the sheriff's office, Trazino, 52, was known for his professionalism and intensity. He still has an advantage, but there's a different level of adrenaline when negotiating with a suspect barricaded inside a house with SOG, compared to some of his duties with Tuxedo.

Trazino was ambitious in Tuxedo, creating a search and rescue team with the Greenwood Lake and Tuxedo Park police departments that rescued hikers and apprehended criminals who had fled into that region's wooded area. He continues to be at the forefront of active shooter training in Orange County and Trazino doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“My heroes are Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, who are over 80 and still active,” Trazino said. “Knock on wood, I’m in good shape, so I’ll continue to work. I took over and this job makes sense to me right now. I'm having fun.”