Search for Southampton police chief widens

The net has been cast a little wider for the next Southampton Town police chief, according to town officials.

The town board has already interviewed Capt. Anthony Tenaglia, who was considered by many residents to be the most likely successor to Chief Fred Overton, who announced his retirement April 16.

The town plans to interview lieutenants in the department at an executive session Tuesday, according to town officials.

Under civil service rules, the town can interview those now holding the positions of captain — Tenaglia is the only one — and lieutenants within the department, according to Allan Schneider, Suffolk’s civil service director.

Southampton Village Police Chief William Wilson has also been interviewed.

“It’s unusual for the town to not promote from within,” Schneider said, adding that the village chief was eligible to apply as long as the town, village and Wilson agreed to it.

Overton, 66, is leaving the department he has served for 43 years.

He became chief in 1990. According to town records, the three Southampton Town police lieutenants are Robert Pearce, Lawrence Schurek Jr. and Robert Iberger.