September 16, 2003 - February 26, 2007
Superintendent Wayne E. Bennett was nominated by Governor Pataki on July 23, 2003 to become the 12th Superintendent of the New York State Police. He was confirmed by the State Senate on September 16, 2003. Superintendent Bennett has served the Division for 38 years.
Prior to his appointment as Superintendent, he served as the First Deputy Superintendent, second in command of the New York State Police, since April of 1994.
Superintendent Bennett previously served as Lieutenant Colonel - Assistant Deputy Superintendent in charge of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), overseeing the operations of the 900 members of that unit. From 1992 to 1993, he served as Lieutenant Colonel - Assistant Deputy Superintendent in charge of the Division's 3,100 member Uniform Force.
The Superintendent, who has held all but three titles in the State Police Uniform Force and Bureau of Criminal Investigation, began his career with the Division as a Trooper in 1968. He rose steadily through the ranks to Investigator (1973), Sergeant (1974), Zone Sergeant (1978), Lieutenant (1982) and Captain (1985) and has served throughout New York State as well as in New York City with the DEA Joint Drug Task Force.
In 1987, he was promoted to Major and Troop Commander of State Police personnel in the ten-county area of Troop G, encompassing the Capital District and southern Adirondacks. This was followed in 1990 by his promotion to Staff Inspector in the Employee Relations Unit at Division Headquarters in Albany.
A native of Castleton, New York, Superintendent Bennett holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Albany, and an Associates Degree in Banking, Insurance and Real Estate from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
Superintendent Bennett passed away on August 15, 2017. He was survived by his wife Patricia, his daughters and grandchildren.