New Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe grew up on Long Island and first came to this area in the late 80s to study Criminal Justice at SUNY Brockport. “I always wanted to be a police officer since I was five years old,” said Forsythe. Chief Forsythe’s Uncle was a police officer, and this is what planted the seed of his earliest desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Upon graduating from college, Forsythe took the Monroe County Sheriff exam before returning to his hometown on Long Island where his parents, older sister and twin sister lived. In 1991, he was hired part-time by the Monroe County Sheriff Office (MCSO) as a Parks Deputy. Then in 1993 he was promoted to a full-time deputy in the MCSO’s A Zone which includes Penfield, Perinton and Pittsford. In this role as a young officer, Forsythe nearly lost his life in the line of duty. In December of 1996, when he was 28 years old, he was conducting a traffic stop in Henrietta. When Forsythe approached the vehicle a man in the passenger seat began getting out of the car to flee the scene. When Forsythe attempted to stop him, the man shot him with a handgun multiple times seriously injuring Forsythe rendering him unable to use his weapon for defense, but he was able to radio for help. “My biggest concern was my parents getting that call that I was shot and injured,” he said. Forsythe’s older sister was killed in a car accident a few years prior and he dreaded what this event was going to do to his parents. But resilient and determined, Forsythe made a full recovery.
After hospitalization and a year of light duty, Forsythe then began his climb to leadership at the MCSO, leading to an impressive career spanning 26 years. His first promotion was to Sergeant in 1997, and when he concluded his career at MCSO in 2017, he was serving as second in command as the Undersheriff to Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn. In December of 2017, Forsythe was awarded the Purple Heart medal by Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn. The award was given for the serious injuries he received in the line of duty at the start of his career, but also for his tenacity in not only recovering from his injuries, but also for his rise through the ranks afterwards.
Drew’s wife Amy is a lifelong resident of Greece. The couple began their life together in the Greece area and continue raising their three children there. This made Forsythe’s next chapter in his law enforcement career a natural fit when he was hired by the Greece Police Department as Deputy Chief of Operations and Special Services in June of 2018. When Chief Patrick Phelan announced his retirement at the end of 2020, it led to Forsythe’s appointment to fill the position of the long-time beloved Chief Phelan.
Greece Police was incepted in 1822, with three Town Constables appointed, and became an official police agency in 1932 with its first Chief of Police, Milton Carter. Chief Forsythe is now the 7th Chief of Police in Greece’s history. He began his role at the end of December 2020, and was sworn in on January 1, 2021. In his first month as Chief, he has had his hands full with two very high-profile criminal cases. A brutal homicide shocked the community at the start of January leading to an out-of-state arrest. Later in January, two Greece children were abducted from their home also leading to out-of-state arrests, and ultimately the safe return of the children. “Having the experience in the County for so many years proved helpful in both cases, especially with all of the relationships I have made with local, state, and federal police agencies. This helped provide a seamless transition, resulting in the arrests and return of the children,” said Forsythe.
As the new Chief of Police for Greece, Forsythe oversees 120 employees, including the 100 sworn personnel in the Town of Greece which is one of largest Towns in all of New York State. Nearly 70% of the officers have less than seven years of experience, lending to a younger department. According to Forsythe it does create some challenges in lack of experience, but it also brings positive opportunities with their willingness, trainability and adaptability.
Chief Forsythe’s leadership is rooted in three key words, “Lead, Inspire and Empower.” His lifelong experience in law enforcement and leadership will help support the success of the Greece Police Department, as well as the continued safety of the community. With Chief Forsythe training and inspiring the relatively young police force, and in combination with the strong support received from the Town of Greece and its community, this will lend itself to strong community policing and positive interactions with those they serve. “The support we receive here at the Greece Police Department is tremendous. We have an incredibly supportive Town Supervisor in Bill Reilich, as well as an amazing community supporting us,” Forsythe said.
