Retired Rockland Sheriff James Kralik died on July 24, 2017, after battling cancer. He was 74. Video by Mark Lieb/Rockland Video Productions, NY, and produced by Matt Spillane. Wochit


James Kralik served the Rockland County Sheriff's Department for nearly half a century; for two decades, he led the agency, re-elected five times to the top law enforcement post. His tenure in law enforcement witnessed massive growth and broadening diversity in the county's population. A changing community meant changing law enforcement needs, and Kralik adapted, innovated and shared resources to help protect Rocklanders.

Kralik, who retired as sheriff in 2011, died Monday at age 74. He had moved from Rockland to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he owned a horse farm and frequently led tours of the historic Civil War battlefield.

Kralik worked his way up the ranks to Sheriff's Department chief of patrol. He was on duty during the Brinks robbery on Oct. 20, 1981; Brinks guard Peter Paige and two members of the Nyack Police Department, Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown, were killed that day. Kralik, who was keynote speaker at the 2016 Brinks Memorial remembrance ceremony, said the incident marked a turning point for Rockland policing, with departments learning to cooperate, and coordinate efforts.

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Interagency cooperation became a hallmark of Kralik's leadership. As law enforcement modernized, Kralik understood that costs of technology and specialized training would be prohibitive without sharing resources. The sheriff developed specialized units like computer crimes, bomb squad and Bureau of Criminal Investigations that could provide support to other departments; a marine unit and mounted unit also supports local departments.

As chairman of National Sheriffs Association Counter-Terrorism Committee, Kralik worked to come up with "best practices" for local PDs in preparing counterterrorism measures, leading such efforts in a post-9/11 world. It's work that, unfortunately, remains relevant.

One push for efficiency — Kralik's support for a countywide police force — ruffled many in local law enforcement. Rockland still has 10 police departments covering various jurisdictions, but cooperation among departments, and with the sheriff's department, grew under Kralik.

There were controversies and political squabbles — after all, the sheriff is an elected and therefore inherently political position. But Kralik, a Republican, would support people of other parties, as long as he believed they could get the job done.

Kralik's dedication to public service and love of history earned him a 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Historical Society of Rockland County. During an interview, he said elected officials need to think less about getting re-elected and instead "think about why they're there, that really, they're an employee of the public." And what, he was asked, was the key characteristic for a public official? "To have a good heart." Memorable words by a memorable public servant.


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