Rye Brook appoints new police lieutenant, conditionally hires officer

The Rye Brook Board of Trustees on May 13 appointed Christopher Rowe to the position of police lieutenant and conditionally appointed Justin Lopez as a police officer.

A resolution read at the meeting stated that Christopher Rowe is appointed “subject to the civil service procedures of the State of New York” and set an annual salary of $182,000 with an effective start date of May 14, 2025. The board took a roll-call vote and approved the appointment unanimously.

Christopher Rowe then took the oath of office in a brief ceremonial portion of the meeting. The oath was administered by Kristin (official title not specified in the transcript) with Rowe repeating the statutory language: “I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of police lieutenant according to the best of my ability.”

The board also approved a separate resolution conditionally appointing Justin Lopez of Yonkers to the position of police officer. Lopez’s offer letter dated April 29, 2025, was referenced in the resolution; the appointment is subject to civil service procedures and background checks. The motion set an annual salary of $66,006.37 and established an effective start date in mid-June — meeting discussion corrected an initial date and the board recorded a June 18, 2025 estimated start date. The conditional appointment was approved by unanimous roll call.

Board members and attendees offered congratulatory remarks to Rowe and welcoming comments to Lopez as both were recognized in the meeting. Mayor Klein and trustees noted the recent turnover in the department and framed the appointments as steps toward restoring full staffing.