A Wayne County native has taken the helm as the new commander of the New York State Police troop that covers much of the Rochester region.
Maj. Kevin Sucher last week took the reigns over Troop E from commander Maj. Miklos Szoczei, who retired in the fall, said New York State Police Trooper Lynnea Crane.
A Wayne High School and Monroe Community College graduate, Sucher became a trooper in May 1999. He lives in Ontario, Wayne County, with his family. In a news release, Sucher was described as a “highly experienced and dedicated member” of the department with “extensive experience” and an “unwavering commitment” to public safety, forensic science, narcotics enforcement and criminal investigation.
Sucher spent roughly 15 years of his career in Troop E’s Forensic Identification Unit – as an investigator, a sergeant and then a supervisor. He briefly served in Troop NYC and NYSP’s narcotics enforcement team in 2018. Since 2019, Sucher held a variety of leadership roles within Troop E, including zone commander and as the captain of Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
But before Sucher was a sworn officer, his first job within the department started in 1990, when he worked as an assistant mechanic in the Troop E maintenance garage. In this role, Sucher helped set up new police vehicles and provided general mechanical services.
“This hands-on beginning has given him a deep appreciation for the diverse roles within the State Police and the importance of teamwork at every level of the organization,” Crane said in a news release. Before he became a trooper, Such spent several years as a police officer for the Geneva Police Department.
The 10-county region that covers Troop E includes Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Livingston counties and is headquartered in Farmington, Ontario County
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Maj. Kevin Sucher takes helm of NYSP troop that covers Rochester NY