Rye PD Welcomes New Officer, Promotes Experienced Member

The Rye Police Department has promoted one officer and hired another. In a short, well attended City Hall ceremony on Monday, March 2, 2026, Alex Whalen was promoted to sergeant and Craig Dorn, Jr. was sworn in as a Rye Police officer.

Whalen

Alex Whalen was promoted to sergeant, rising again after being promoted to the rank of detective last fall. 

“Alex is one of our most experienced members in the department,” said Commissioner of Public Safety Mike Kopy. “Alex has served in patrol. He’s been in charge of the boat unit. He has been the downtown officer, the village officer, and done just about everything you can do in the department. So he has a tremendous amount of experience.”

Whalen started his career in 2014 with the NYPD and transferred to Rye PD in 2016. Prior to becoming a detective, Whalen was assigned as the marine unit commander. He helped the Police Department acquire a 31’ Safe Boat making the marine unit capable of responding to emergencies year-round. 

Whalen is also a fire investigator assigned to the Westchester County Arson Task Force where he investigates fires throughout Westchester. He is a lifelong Westchester County resident and has been a volunteer firefighter for 18 years. He graduated from John Jay High School and attended John Jay College with a BA in criminal justice. 

Dorn

Craig Dorn Jr. was sworn in as a new Rye police officer, joining from the Mt. Vernon Police Department.

“Officer Dorn comes to us very highly recommended from your colleagues and peers and your previous employer,” said Commissioner Kopy. “I hope that you bring your experience to bear here in the City of Rye. We’re counting on very good things from you.”

“I’m very enthused to be here,” Officer Dorn told the assembled crowd. “I want to appreciate everybody who came out here to support me. I have a lot of friends and family here who inspire me each and every day, and can’t wait to get out there and work.”

Dorn joined the Mount Vernon Police department in July 2023 after graduating from the Westchester Police Academy. He was a patrol officer in the City of Mount Vernon and last year was added to the traffic/motorcycle unit focused on road safety by enforcing the vehicle and traffic law. 

Dorn is a Westchester County resident, born in Tarrytown and raised in New Rochelle. He captained his JV and varsity basketball teams at New Rochelle High School. Dorn holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing, with a minor in accounting, from Alfred University. He then stayed on for an MBA, also from Alfred. Prior to working in law enforcement, he was a location/branch manager for the Hertz Corporation in Manhattan for five years.

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