32. Timothy Sini

Some questioned Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s decision
to appoint a police commissioner that was a former federal
prosecutor, not a police officer, who, at age 36, was the youngest to
lead the department in its history. Sini’s loss as a first-time candidate
to the county legislature’s GO P minority leader shortly before his
nomination to the post smacked of politics as usual at a time when
the department was reeling from scandal. But the new commish
made quick work of cleaning up the mess left by James Burke, the
former police chief serving federal prison time for beating a suspect
and covering it up. Sini repaired federal investigative partnerships
that Burke soured. Embodying his commitment to transparency, the
new top cop regularly holds news conferences touting his department’s
work. And along the way, he’s more than convinced critics
that he’s more than up for the job.