An investigation has put two senior New York State troopers on the hot seat after they are accused of exploiting their official status to sneak family members into the Ryder Cup golf tournament.
First Deputy Superintendent Christopher West and Colonel Darren Pitkin are being examined for allegedly breaching department policy by bringing relatives to the Long Island event in September, according to law‑enforcement insiders who spoke to The New York Post.
The probe, which was first exposed in a stunning report by the Times Union, could ultimately force both men to step down.
When asked for comment, a State Police spokesperson, Beau Duffy, initially said he would not respond, but later confirmed that Superintendent Steven James had ordered a swift investigation into the two executive troopers over the Ryder Cup controversy.
“Superintendent James has asked for the resignation of two executive staff members, and both are expected to retire in the coming days,” Duffy told the Times Union. “Integrity is the cornerstone of the state police, and all allegations of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated.”
Both officers may choose to retire, according to the report.
During the tournament, which ran from September 26–28 in Farmingdale, West and Pitkin had official access and were photographed alongside Superintendent James and golfer Rory McIlroy at the opening ceremonies. After James returned to Albany, the two troopers allegedly slipped relatives into the venue, a breach that irked some in the department.
Troopers assigned to the event were explicitly told not to accept free meals – let alone bring friends and family with them – as part of their role in the security detail.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that the governor had been briefed by Superintendent James and endorsed the superintendent’s decision to request the resignations of the two senior officers. “Law enforcement is sworn to uphold the law and should be held to the highest standards,” the statement read. “Our administration has zero tolerance for wrongdoing of any kind and all allegations of misconduct will be fully investigated.”
The state police inquiry follows a separate incident involving an NYPD veteran who faced scrutiny after he arrived at the same event in full tactical equipment, claiming he was part of the security detail while on sick leave—just a day after former President Trump attended the tournament.
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