Note: You can read the village's January "One Square Mile" newsletter here.

By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

Jan. 8, 2025: I wish my fellow Villagers a new year filled with happiness and staying in that spirit, I wanted to continue on a very positive note and introduce residents to incredible men and women currently serving in our police department as these are the professionals you see quite frequently in the business district.

One of the most beneficial attributes of the Village is our small size and ability to get to know each other, whether it be a neighbor, a shopkeeper a teacher or a police officer.

To that end, I start this year with up close and personal interviews with two more of Bronxville‘s finest.

Officer Matthew Stein

Police Officer Matthew Stein (Badge #36) has been with the Village for three plus years and is a fellow Westchesterite growing up in Ardsley and attending Ardsley Public Schools.

Following graduation from Ardsley High School, he attended Pace University obtaining a BA in Political Science. Blessed with a mother and grandmother who particularly valued education, Matthew continued on and obtained a Masters in Management of Homeland Security and Public Safety.

His first job was with the New York City Office of Corrections as a confidential investigator at Riker’s Island.

Admitting that he did not always want to be a Police Officer, it was truly in his DNA as both his parents are retired New York City Police Officers and his sister is currently a Greenburgh Police Officer.

After seeing his parents perform their jobs so admirably, it gave Matthew a sense of pride for the profession from his earliest memories.

Following his Riker‘s Island experience, Matthew took both the NYPD and the Westchester County police exam and was called by both, eventually deciding to accept a job from the Greenburgh Police Department and working there for four years before coming to Bronxville.

After his experience growing up in Ardsley, a small community-oriented environment, he feels the transition to Bronxville has been “seamless” and has provided a “very rewarding experience”.

His attraction to Bronxville and what he feels distinguishes us from other departments is the ability to make strong connections within the community as the Village department allows an officer the time to really get to know people on a daily basis. Deployed as the Village’s first Community Policing Officer shortly after his arrival, he loved being able to walk into any store or business and without any hesitation being received with a welcoming smile and open arms. Though he loves visiting all our businesses, he admitted he loves going to Park Place Bagels early in the morning for a warm and freshly baked bagel.

Newly married this past July, Matthew and his wife are expecting their first child in June. When not in Bronxville, he loves being with his extended family and working out. He admitted that before pursuing a police career, his first true love was playing basketball, having played his entire life all the way to college. He served as an assistant coach at Ardsley High School for the varsity boys’ team as well as at Robert Jacobson Sports in Ardsley, something he hopes to get back to when time permits.

When I asked him to share a special moment, he did not hesitate, a Bronxville School project with his now friend Wes came immediately to mind. Wes was tasked with finding a local hero and decided to choose a police officer. After sharing a poster depicting everything that an officer was asked to do on a daily basis with his classmates, he presented the poster to Matt as a gift. Officer Stein keeps that poster as a constant reminder the impact one can have when you think no one is watching.

Officer Nigel Butler

By contrast, Officer Nigel Butler, (Badge #39) in his words, “was born and raised in beautiful Jamaica.” At the age of 14, Officer Butler said it was indeed a courageous move to come to the States and join his mother who was living and working in Mount Vernon. Educated at Mount Vernon High School, Nigel continued on to Mercy College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in behavioral sciences. He married his Mount Vernon High School sweetheart Debbie, with whom he shares two wonderful boys, D’Andre and Daren. Currently the family resides right next-door in Yonkers. Officer Butler’s early aspiration centered around being a teacher and in 2010 he became a paraprofessional in the Mount Vernon School District while pursuing a Master’s Degree in early education.

His path took an unexpected turn due to the economic recession at the time so he pivoted towards a career in law-enforcement, in his mind, a logical extension of his dream to serve and positively impact his community.

He became a Mount Vernon Police Officer in 2012, but after a fellow colleague told him about our Police Department, he joined the Bronxville family in 2015. Nigel said the transition has been incredibly fulfilling as the Bronxville Police Department stands out for strong, family like bonds with the community. He said it just feels great to be recognized by name when he’s walking through the Village or when responding to calls for service as the appreciation he receives from the residents is truly uplifting.

Like Officer Stein, Officer Butler felt it was a privilege to further engage with our community through the Community Policing Program. Walking the streets of Bronxville, meeting residents and having meaningful conversations proved to be a profoundly rewarding experience that further deepened his connection to what he calls this wonderful community. His favorite places to grab a bite include Il Bacio, Opa Opa and a perennial favorite Park Place Bagels.

In his free time, Officer Butler likes to travel and experience new places and immerse himself in new cultures.

When not at work, you can find him coaching his son’s soccer team or enjoying the soothing sounds of Bob Marley and classical reggae in his basement as these moments of relaxation remind him of his roots and bring him immense joy.

He ended our interview expressing his sincere gratitude to all of you in the Village for making his job so pleasurable and rewarding.