Retired NYPD Chief Anthony Izzo dies after drowning in his home's pool in Stony Brook

Retired NYPD Chief Anthony J. Izzo drowned Friday night in the swimming pool of his Stony Brook home, police said, one of several recent pool-related deaths in the county.

Izzo, 75, the retired three-star chief of the NYPD’s defunct Organized Crime Control Bureau, was found unresponsive in the backyard pool of his Malverne Lane residence around 7:45 p.m., according to a Suffolk County police news release. A family member called 911.

Police officers and fire department rescuers performed CPR after pulling Izzo out of the pool but could not save him. He was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital, the release said.

Robert Boyce, former NYPD chief of detectives, said he worked with Izzo over the years and got to know him well. Izzo was over 6 feet tall, loved motorcycles and earned the moniker “Tough Tony,” he said.

“He was a talented police executive,” Boyce said. “He showed strength and leadership.”

The NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association union, in a social media post, said Izzo “dedicated decades of his life to protecting New Yorkers and supporting the men and women of the NYPD.”

The NYPD Columbia Association, in a social media post, said Izzo was a lifetime member of the organization and a former “Man of the Year” honoree.

“His dedication to the Department, his fellow officers, and the Italian-American community left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing him," the organization said. "We are grateful for his years of service, his friendship, and his continued support of our Association.”

Izzo’s drowning is at least the fourth such death in Suffolk in recent weeks. Pool deaths last month include a 2-year-old girl in Mastic Beach, a 3-year-old boy in Central Islip and a 73-year-old woman in Huntington. There have also been several near-drownings.