Chief Steven Dixon

Chief Dixon began his Law Enforcement career in 1988 serving with the City of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Police Department where he was assigned to the Patrol Division. Chief Dixon subsequently began working for the Village of Tarrytown, N.Y. Police Department where he was assigned to the Patrol Division. During his time with the Tarrytown Police Department Chief Dixon received numerous awards/ citations for his work in both Drug & Weapons Interdiction and DWI Enforcement efforts. While with the Tarrytown Police Department Chief Dixon worked in the following capacities: Department Field Training Officer, Crime Prevention Officer, he was also the Department Liaison to local groups such as the Seniors Association, Tenants Association and the Boy Scout/Cub Scouts. Chief Dixon also established a local Neighborhood Watch Program. In 2002, Chief Dixon began working for the Town of Cornwall, N.Y. Police Department and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Sergeant serving as second in charge of the Department. While employed as a Sergeant with the Town of Cornwall, N.Y. Police Department Chief Dixon was responsible for handling Criminal Investigations, Department Training, Scheduling, Assignments and Supervision of Personnel. Chief Dixon also attended several F.B.I. Training Courses including, F.B.I. Criminal Investigation School, F.B.I. Crime Scene School and F.B.I. Defensive Tactics Instructor School. Chief Dixon graduated from the Westchester County Police Academy, Valhalla, N.Y., Rockland Community College, Suffern, N.Y. and Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, Pa, majoring in Criminal Justice. In December, 2011, Chief Dixon was hired by the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. Police Department as a Patrol Sergeant and subsequently in March, 2012, became Chief of Police with the Department.

Current Officers

Sgt. Robert Ruger: Sgt. Ruger was appointed to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in August, 2023’. Sgt. Ruger previously worked for the Village of Highland Falls Police Department as a Sergeant as well as served with the Village of Harriman Police Department. Sgt. Ruger has served with the US ARMY Reserves for over (18) years and currently holds the rank of First Sergeant having been deployed four (4) separate times; twice to Guantanamo Cuba, once to Fallujah & Mosul, Iraq and once to Kabul, Afghanistan. Sgt. Ruger attained the rank of Eagle Scout while with the Boy Scouts. Sgt. Ruger is a Certified General Topics Instructor, TASER Instructor and has attended numerous Leadership Courses while serving with the US ARMY Reserves. Sgt. Ruger attended, SUNY Delhi, earning an Associate’s Degree in Humanities as well as attended, SUNY Ulster, where he obtained his Police Officer Certification Training Degree.

P.O. John Pena: Sergeant Pena was promoted to Sergeant in November 21. He began his career as a part-time officer with the Cornwall-on-Hudson P.D. back in 2001. In 2005, he was hired full-time by the City of Newburgh and in 2007, he transferred back to the Cornwall-on-Hudson P.D., now as a full-time officer. PO Pena completed the Advanced Narcotics Training Course offered by H.I.D.T.A. and he is certified in OC Spray, ASP Baton, and TASER. Officer Pena is a NYS certified Field Training Officer being responsible to train newly hired police officers. Sgt. Pena retired as a full- time Sergeant with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson in July, 2023. Officer Pena will now continue to work with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in a part- time capacity as a Police Officer.

PO John Antinori: Officer Antinori began his career in law enforcement back in 1984 with the Town of Cornwall P.D., transferring to the Cornwall-on-Hudson P.D. in 1998. He is currently employed as a teacher in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. PO Antinori earned a Bachelors degree from S.U.N.Y New Paltz and a masters degree in education from N.Y.U.. He has certifications in Community Oriented Policing and Juvenile Custody as well as a certification as a Master SCUBA diver. PO Antinori also holds a Merchant Marine Document as a licensed Captain.

PO Seth Armstrong: Officer Armstrong started his police career in the Village of Fishkill in 2003, transferring to the Cornwall-on-Hudson P.D. in 2004. He is currently employed full-time by Rockland County BOCES as a Health and Safety Tech and instructor and he is the former Chief of the Fort Montgomery Fire Department. PO Armstrong earned his Bachelors degree in Arson Investigation from the University of New Haven in 1999, he is a Certified First Responder and he is a DOT certified Bus Accident Investigator.

P.O. John Dunworth: P.O. Dunworth was appointed to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in March, 2023’. Officer Dunworth previously worked/ retired from the NYPD after having served over  (27) years in the Housing Unit as well as the Strategic Response Group. P.O. Dunworth attended both Bergen Community College and John Jay College as well as graduated from the New York City Police Academy.   

PO Jonathan Kapczak: Officer Kapczak is a lifelong resident of both Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson graduating from Cornwall Central High School. Officer Kapczak received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from SUNY Oneonta. Prior to becoming an officer with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson PD, Officer Kapczak worked for the New York City Police Department. P.O. Kapczak also does Home Contracting Work and is in the process of starting his own Construction Company. 

PO James Lynch: Officer Lynch was hired by the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in March, 2021. Officer Lynch is also employed as a Police Officer with the Village of Montgomery, N.Y., Police Department and previously worked as a Police Dispatcher with the Town of Montgomery, N.Y., Police Department. Officer Lynch attended Orange County Community College as well as completed his formal police training and certification at the Ulster County, N.Y., Police Academy.

PO Thomas Moran: PO Moran has been a member of the Cornwall on Hudson P.D. on and off since 1978, recently returning in 2010 for his third term. During those years, he has worked full-time for the Department of Environmental Conservation (1988 through 2001) and the Westchester County District Attorney’s office as a Criminal Investigator (2001 through 2010). PO Moran is an FBI certified firearms instructor and he was awarded the Orange County Chiefs of Police “Officer of the Year” in 1994 for saving the life of a 15-year old stabbing victim here in Cornwall-on-Hudson.

PO Saul Rodriguez: Officer Rodriguez was appointed as a Police Officer with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in May, 2024, after having previously been employed for the past five years by the New York City Police Department. Officer Rodriguez was last assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit in the 34th Precinct (Washington Heights Section of Manhattan). Officer Rodriguez graduated from the New York City Police Academy and has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Berkeley College, N.Y., N.Y. Officer Rodriguez is also Bilingual.

PO Joseph Ryle: Officer Ryle was appointed to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in August, 2022. Officer Ryle graduated from Cornwall Central High School and attended Orange Community College. Officer Ryle graduated from the Orange County Police Academy and was appointed as a Police Officer with the Town of Cornwall Police Department. Officer Ryle subsequently transferred to and retired from the Village of Monroe, N.Y., Police Department as a Police Officer. Upon retirement Officer Ryle continued working as a part- time Police Officer with the Village of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., Police Department. Officer Ryle also currently works as a Supervisor in the Private Security Field. Officer Ryle is also a Certified Field Training Officer.

PO Robert Thompson: Officer Thompson was appointed to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department in June, 2022. Officer Thompson graduated Newburgh Free Academy High School as well as from Orange Community College Majoring in Business Management. Officer Thompson graduated from the New York City Police Academy and previously worked as a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department, he is also a Volunteer Fireman with the New Windsor, N.Y., Fire Department.