When James H. Lawrence, Jr. took over the helm of the Nassau County Police Department in June 2002 following the death of commissioner William Willet, he figured he would hold the top cop spot for about two or three years. On June 29, Lawrence retired from the commissioner's position, ending a nearly four decade-long career in law enforcement that included five years as Nassau County police commissioner.

"It's funny. I've been here five years and people ask 'why are you retiring?' I already did 32 years in New York. I thought I would come out here, do two or three years and cap off my career but I came out here and it went on and on and on. I guess I was so busy I did not realize how much time was passing," Lawrence, who announced his retirement in May, told Anton Community Newspapers.

Lawrence said he began to consider retirement earlier this year, viewing it as the "opportune time." "I started thinking about maybe doing some other things," said Lawrence, who added that spending more time with family as well as vacationing at the family's Venice, FL home, are top on his "to do" list. His stepson, James Brown, graduated from St. Mary's in June and is off to Loyola College in the fall and his son, James Lawrence III, lives in New Hampshire, where he is a three-term senator married to Constance and father to Mara, James IV and Christopher.

For his first official weekend as a retiree, Lawrence and his wife, Gail Brown, were "looking forward to a leisurely drive down to Florida without having to call and check in," he said with a laugh. "We want to do some of the things we haven't been able to do because of the requirements of a position like police commissioner - and seeing what comes my way."

According to Lawrence, his years as police commissioner have been extremely rewarding. "I came into the county at a time when it was in some dire straits financially. These weren't very good times, but given that fact, we have accomplished a great deal, including maintaining one of the lowest crime rates in the nation," Lawrence said, adding that he is also proud of the relationships that have been built between the police department and the county residents it serves. "We have tried to address some of our issues in partnership with people who live and work here in Nassau County," he said.

On a personal level, Lawrence said he is proud to have played a hand in what he refers to as an "overwhelming increase" in in the county's Explorer Program, an organization under the umbrella of Boy Scouts of America umbrella in which high-schoolers become involved in law enforcement. Lawrence said that when he came to the county five years ago there were about four active Explore posts. Today, there are around 300.

"These high school-aged kids meet and get involved in activities with local law enforcement members who act as advisors. They get involved in community projects and have a chance to work with others," he said. "In doing so, they develop leadership skills, develop an awareness of their civic responsibilities and how to be a part of a community and make it better."

Lawrence said he views the five years he spent at the helm of Nassau's police force as an "opportunity of a lifetime." "Law enforcement as a career is a wonderful opportunity, but the chance to run your own agency, especially one of the largest in the country, is a chance of a lifetime," he said. "I will be forever grateful to Tom Suozzi for giving me this opportunity. It was the first time in 40 years the position went to someone outside the department. It takes a special person to think outside the box and have the confidence to believe that I had what it took to come in here and do the job."

A native of Harlem, Lawrence is a Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Army where he attained the rank of first lieutenant. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Fordham University and a Juris Doctorate from CUNY Law School at Queens College. Additionally, he is a 1993 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.

Lawrence joined the New York City Police Department in February 1970, and began his career on patrol in the 40 Precinct. At the end of his 32-year career he served as chief of personnel, responsible for the management of human resource function related to all 55,000 New York City Police Department employees.

While he does plan on spending a great deal of time doing all the things he hasn't had much of a chance to do as a result of a career in law enforcement, Lawrence said his immediate retirement plans do not include relocating from the Westbury community he has called home for 29 years. He also plans to remain active with the SUNY Old Westbury Board of Trustees, the Board of Visitors at CUNY Law School, the New Ground Advisory Board and the 100 Black Men Board of Directors, among others.

Following Lawrence's announcement that he would retire at the end of June, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi convened an internal committee to conduct a search for a new police commissioner. Numerous applications were submitted of which 11 candidates were interviewed and, during a press conference June 28, Westbury resident Lawrence W. Mulvey, 56, was named Nassau's new police commissioner, effective July 1.

Anthony W. Rocco, currently chief of department and a 39-year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department, has agreed to remain in his current role.