Executive Board

Ex-President Jeffrey Kropp’s maritime career started in 1990 when he joined the United States Coast Guard after graduating St. Dominic H.S. in Oyster Bay NY. His career in the Coast Guard continued in 1994 when he transitioned to the reserves and rose to the rank of Chief Machinery Technician before retiring from Station New York after 30 years of service. Some notable highlights include deployment into NYC after the attacks on 9/11 for Operation Enduring Freedom where he patrolled the waters with more than 300 reservists for 1 ½ years.  Two deployments for hurricane humanitarian efforts, and attended many schools and is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy.

He holds an associated degree in business.  For more than 26 years he has worked for the Town of Huntington Harbormasters office and currently holds the title of Sergeant. His duties include overseeing day to day operations while patrolling more than 90 miles of shoreline along with overseeing and organizing training for local and state agencies.  He is also a holder of a 50-ton masters Coast Guard license and a shareholding partner in the family business, A.R. Kropp Co. and Sons Library Furnishings.  He would like to thank his wife and four children, friends and shipmates for guidance and support over his career.

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” - President John F. Kennedy

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I’ve been a member of the NYSHBCA since 2006. I started his career as a bay Constable for the Town of Smithtown and was there from 2004 to 2005. I’m a lifelong boater, I am a US Army and US Coast Guard veteran. In 2003 I retired from the NYPD.  

Since 2006 I’ve been a bay Constable for the towns of Smithtown; 2004-2005, North Hempstead; 2006-2010, Brookhaven; and Islip 2011-2012, and then back to Smithtown since 2013. 

During the 2010 season with the North Hempstead Harbor Patrol, I was involved in 2 notable incidents; a marine fire-fighting operation that saw the NHHP SAFE boat’s water cannon play a major role in suppressing a fire that consumed 2 waterfront houses from spreading to others.

Later that year I assisted in the rescue 3 people clinging to a dock after their sailboat was sunk by 80mph winds during a severe derecho squall front. That severe weather event also produced a tornado over Port Washington, which fortunately did not touch down.

Working for Islip in 2012, I was in the Islip Emergency Operations Center Harbor Police position, relaying storm damage and flooding reports from residents to the town and state officials. In the morning, I helped launch and crew the first law enforcement SAR mission on the Harbor Police SAFE boat. In the following days I was both crew and coxswain on many damage surveys of Islip waterways.  

In 2013 I returned to the Town of Smithtown as a bay Constable; I’m in my 10th season, 12 if you count all my time. I’ve been decorated by the Smithtown Department of Public Safety 4 times for rescues.

On August 25th, 2022, all bay Constables in Suffolk County, New York had their civil service title changed to Harbormaster. I liked the title of bay Constable; it had a retro vibe to it. But changes in NY State’s byzantine firearms laws made the civil service title change necessary for the towns.

I was fortunate to be mentored and trained by some real legends of the title; Senior Bay Constable and now Smithtown Harbormaster Pat Gilligan, Paul Hedger [former Smithtown Harbormaster] Harbormaster Mal Nathan, North Hempstead, and I’ve been fortunate to work alongside other experts like; Steve Somma [USCG vet] Vic Fuentes and Mike Green [all from North Hempstead], bay Constable Dale Petruska [East Hampton].

I’m especially grateful for the support and expertise given to me by my fellow Harbormasters at Smithtown. They are smartest, funniest, bravest, and most experienced Harbormasters I have ever worked with.

Dale L. Petruska joined the NYSHBCA in 1990, he is serving presently as the 2nd Vice President, Training Council, President 2001 to 2006.  

Retired in 2021 after serving 35yrs as various titles in capacities throughout Long Island & NYS Instructor SMPVOC, Firearms, Active Shooter, Defensive Tactics, First Aid/CPR, etc.  

As a NYS Boating Safety Instructor since '92 has taken great pleasure in teaching over 1000 Long Island & NYS Boaters using lesson plans, hands-on & sea-stories.  

2006-2021 East Hampton Town Police/Marine Patrol Sr. Harbormaster/ Harbormaster. Currently as a PT Harbormaster.

2020 Riverhead Town Police in capacity as a PT Bay constable

1989-2006 Southampton Town Police/ Bay Constable  

Dale began his formal training and career serving 1982-1987 in the United States Coast Guard. while awaiting his A-School as a USCG ASM (MOS- Aviation Survival­ Man) GOD had other plans for Dale, finding favor with Chief of the Boat he was soon swayed by the 01' Salt, to strike the MOS-Boatswains Mate Rate. Soon achieving the rank of Boatswains mate, Coxswain, USCG Emergency Medical Technician, Hvy Wx Coxswain. Station Firearms Officer, etc. During his career has participated in numerous SAR and LE Missions: TWA Flight 800, 9-11WTC, SAR USCG MLB44308 Super Storm Gloria, Sandy, JFK Jr. Plane Crash, etc

Our President Dan Shannon graduated from SUNY Maritime in 2012 with a USCG unlimited tonnage deck license and currently maintains a 100-ton Captain's license. After graduation he sailed deep sea as a merchant marine on American flagged vessels until he became a Harbormaster in 2019 for the Town of Smithtown. He now proudly serves the community of Huntington in capacity of Harbormaster.