Who is Rodney Harrison? Suffolk County police chief says solving Gilgo Beach murders like 'putting a puzzle together'
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: In a recent interview, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison shed light on the significant breakthrough in the long-standing Gilgo Beach murders case. The arrest of suspect Rex Heuermann, 59, has brought a sense of closure to a case that had remained unsolved for over a decade. Harrison likened the investigation to "putting a puzzle together," emphasizing the need to combine multiple pieces of evidence to crack the complex homicide case.
“I think there was some good work done but, unfortunately, homicides are putting a puzzle together, and you have to grab so many different pieces,” he told The Sunday Times, before praising the contribution of an off-site team dedicated to the Gilgo Beach killings, crediting them with pushing the investigation in the right direction. The team's fresh perspective and relentless efforts played a vital role in finally leading to Heuermann's arrest.
Heuermann's alleged victims
The suspect has been accused of murdering three women - Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Amber Costello, 27 - whose bodies were discovered in 2010 in the marsh at Gilgo Beach on Long Island. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court again in early August. However, the investigation is far from over, as Harrison mentioned the existence of six other bodies at Ocean Parkway that require further examination. Determining the link between Heuermann and these additional victims will undoubtedly take some time.
The police commissioner also expressed gratitude towards Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, whom he hailed as a "very hard-working Pitbull." Tierney's dedication to the case helped propel the investigation forward, resulting in the breakthrough arrest. Harrison was cautious not to speculate on any connections between Heuermann and the other bodies discovered near Gilgo Beach. “There’s an ongoing investigation,” Harrison said. “We do have one serial killer, and will determine if there’s multiple or several, but it’s hard to determine if Rex Heuermann is attached to the other bodies that were discovered near Gilgo. I wouldn’t want to speculate.”
'A demon that walks among us'
During a press conference held last week, Harrison referred to Heuermann as "a demon that walks among us, a predator that ruined families." Despite the strong language used, he staunchly defended his choice of words. “If you have destroyed multiple families and taken a loved one away from them, in my eyes you’re a monster. I don’t care how vulgar or harsh it sounds, ask the families to have me put in a different phrase," he said.
To advance the investigation, Harrison assembled a task force comprising members from the FBI, state police, and Suffolk County authorities. Their collaborative efforts proved fruitful, as they managed to trace Heuermann's Chevrolet Avalanche vehicle and obtain crucial information from phone calls. Police were able to zero in on the suspect with the help of cell tower data, witness descriptions of his vehicle, and eventually, DNA analysis. “One of the biggest problems [of the earlier investigation] was that we didn’t have our perpetrator’s DNA on file — that’s nothing to do with the [quality of the] evidence that was collected, there was just no DNA to match it to,” Harrison explained.
Obtaining the perpetrator's DNA
Eventually, an "abandonment sample" was collected from Heuermann when police retrieved bottles from a bin outside his residence. Subsequently, a discarded pizza box in Manhattan, which he had used, matched the DNA from a hair found on one of the victims' remains. Heuermann is also a prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, further deepening the complexity of the case. All four victims had worked as online escorts and had gone missing between 2007 and 2010.
As news of Heuermann's arrest broke, his family, including his wife and two children, were reportedly in a state of shock and disbelief. Harrison and his team had to provide evidence to the family to confirm their father's identity as the alleged serial killer. “We had to kind of show them some type of proof to let it be known who their father was behind the curtain,” the police commissioner said. “But they're cooperating. They're currently, I'm being told, in a hotel.”
Reflecting on the arrest, Harrison expressed his satisfaction in getting Heuermann off the streets, thus making the community safer. “[Heuermann] had no arrests, which also was very bizarre. Architect, had a good job, had a family, but suddenly we were able to put the pieces of the puzzle together, get in the right direction, be able to get to a point where we needed probable cause against Mr. Heuermann,” he told People. “And now he's in a jail cell.” Meanwhile, the investigation continues to unravel the mysteries surrounding the Gilgo Beach murders and potential links to other victims found along Ocean Parkway.
Who is Rodney Harrison?
Rodney K Harrison is a highly experienced law enforcement professional who served with the New York Police Department (NYPD) for 30 years. He joined the force in 1992 and held various senior positions, including executive officer for Staten Island, chief of patrol, and chief of detectives, becoming the first African American to hold this title in December 2019. As chief of detectives, he directed crime investigations during a particularly violent period in New York City.
In 2021, Harrison was promoted to chief of department, where he oversaw the CompStat system, managed recovery efforts after anti-police riots, and worked to enhance community relationships amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a pivotal role in developing the neighborhood policing initiative. Harrison's dedication to the community was evident in his appearances on Staten Island, where he actively recruited minority candidates for the NYPD. In 2021, after retiring from the NYPD, Harrison made history as the first African American police commissioner for the Suffolk County Police Department. His illustrious career is marked by his commitment to public safety and community engagement.