A Leader Who Chased the Sunshine

Honoring Peter Modafferi

Well, Big Phil saw his shadow this past Sunday, dooming us all to another six weeks of winter! You’d think that after all these years, he would have learned to follow the advice of Walt Whitman.

Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind you.

Unlike, Phil, it was a lesson Pete learned long ago.

If Pete ever finds out that I was speaking about him in the same post as a furry groundhog, I would have some explaining to do. So let me do that here.

Who is Pete?

If you're from Rockland County, then Peter Modafferi is a household name. As Chief of Detectives, he left an indelible mark on the county as a man driven by kindness and justice.

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In fact, New York State Supreme Court Judge Tom Zugibe, who previously served as Rockland County District Attorney, once said, “There is absolutely no one that had a greater impact on public safety in our community than Pete Modafferi.” He went on to call Pete “a prophet in his own land”- a rare and powerful tribute.

I first met “Chief Pete” in the wake of September 11, when the world was upside down. Though we lived less than 15 miles from one another, I met him not at home but on the national circuit. A larger-than-life presence, his voice was strong and unwavering in the realm of criminal investigations and intelligence.

As the former chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Investigative Operations Committee, Pete’s leadership shaped law enforcement in the post-9/11 world. He helped spearhead innovative initiatives like the Counterterrorism Collaboration Interoperability Project, setting the stage for how agencies across the country would share intelligence and work together.

Tragically, Pete was no stranger to terrorism. In 1981, he was among the first on the scene of the infamous Brinks robbery-murders at the Nyack Thruway entrance, an attack carried out by domestic terror groups. As heartbreaking as that day was, Pete used it as fuel for his mission, driving him to establish Rockland County’s criminal intelligence unit - a model that became a national standard.

Pete was a relentless force for justice, a creative and forward-thinking leader at a time when law enforcement needed transformation. He was ahead of his time, raising awareness about human and sex trafficking well before it hit mainstream law enforcement discussions. I personally remember him assisting us in New Jersey in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLVIII, ensuring that proactive measures were in place to combat such trafficking.

Moreover, Pete’s advocacy for leveraging cutting-edge forensic science played a crucial role in modernizing investigative practices. In 2017, he remarked, “DNA made it a different world as technology has enhanced law enforcement and investigations today. The technology can help convict or exonerate a suspect.”

Facing the Shadows, Chasing the Light

Yesterday, I had the honor of attending Pete’s funeral, surrounded by many past transformational leaders in law enforcement who navigated us through the terrorism era. As I listened to his eulogy, my mind raced with memories of Pete and the countless ways he made an impact.

One statement stood out: Pete literally wore out his first heart doing so much good that he needed another one. Yes, he was a heart transplant recipient.

Yet, even when facing the shadows of his own mortality, he did not slow down. Instead, he ramped up his pursuit of justice and kindness. Interestingly enough, I never knew he loved playing Santa Claus, handing out gifts to children, but it makes perfect sense - Pete was always giving, always thinking of others.

Maybe it was the cold weather outside, or maybe it was the thought of spring, but somehow, Punxsutawney Phil flashed into my mind. Where Phil ran from his shadow, dooming us to six more weeks of winter, Pete kept his face to the sunshine, making us all better for it for the long term.

We will miss his leadership, but we will never forget it.

Rest easy, Pete. Your legacy will shine on.