A man of integrity and honor. A family man. A leader. A friend. A champion. A dedicated public servant. A partner. A collaborator. A community guy. A decorated law enforcement professional. A good cop and a better man.
These are just some of the phrases used to describe Chief of Police Robert Noble. Crowds of colleagues, old and new; friends; family; first responders; elected officials; and residents gathered outside the Yorktown Police Department Friday as Noble made his final walkout, marking his retirement after a decade as chief and 33 years with the department.
The impact of his storied law enforcement career on both the Yorktown community and the broader law enforcement profession was evident in the sheer number of people gathered and the words spoken in his praise.
It was an emotional afternoon filled with tributes, stories and reflections not just about the leader Noble has been, but the man behind the badge. Capt. Justin Foley, who will succeed Noble as chief, described him as a leader who always led from the front.
“Your door was always open. Your phone was always on,” Foley said, adding that Noble helped him and other officers work to a “higher standard” to accomplish the vision for what the Yorktown Police Department should be — a partner with the community it serves.
Noble's career reflected the leadership so many speakers described.
He began his law enforcement career as a police officer in the City of White Plains in 1993. He subsequently transferred to the Yorktown Police Department and began his YPD career on April 6, 1994. While a patrolman, he received the Meritorious Police Duty Award, along with several commendations from supervisors.
He was promoted to sergeant on February 20, 2001, with responsibilities including training, directing, supervising and evaluating personnel in their assigned duties. As a sergeant, he was assigned as assistant to the patrol division commander in 2004.
Noble was promoted to lieutenant on April 6, 2005, and served as patrol division commander, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the patrol division from 2005 to 2015. In 2015, he was assigned as operations commander, overseeing the detective bureau and coordinating all department in-service training programs.
While a lieutenant, Noble served as program manager for the Yorktown Police Department accreditation program, successfully coordinating accreditation in 2006, 2011 and 2016. In 2015, he attended and completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in Princeton, New Jersey. He was appointed acting chief on June 13, 2016.
July 2 has been designated Chief Robert Noble Day in Westchester County. His retirement and storied career were also entered into the congressional record. While Noble is retiring, officials said his legacy remains.
“When we appointed Bob 10 years ago, we hoped we had chosen the right leader for the Yorktown Police Department. Looking back today, I can say without hesitation that we did,” Lachterman said. “You have left an indelible mark on this department and this town. Yorktown is safer, stronger and better because the Yorktown Police Department stands today as one of New York’s premier accredited law enforcement agencies, because of the culture, professionalism and standards you helped build.”
“I couldn't be prouder of my two families. My wife and children, and my YPD family. I could not be prouder of the team than I had a privilege to lead,” Noble said. “I stepped down with total confidence, knowing that the Yorktown Police Department is staffed by amazing men and women.”
Noble thanked his wife, Eleana, and their three adult children, Amanda, Bobby and Meghan, for their unwavering love and sacrifice. He also expressed gratitude to the many colleagues, friends and community members who made his career and tenure as chief possible, and said he was overwhelmed with appreciation.
“I cannot thank you enough for making this day so special for me and my family,” he said. “I will never forget it.”
While Noble's accomplishments are extensive, those who spoke said his greatest legacy is not the awards he received, but the person he is.
Keith Kuttruf, lead maintenance mechanic and president of the CSEA Civil Service Employees Association union, illustrated that sentiment with a story about a painting in Noble's office depicting a young boy sitting beside a police officer — a symbol of compassion and connection.
He recalled how Noble consistently made time for people in small, meaningful moments — stepping away during a meal to speak with a young child and his mother, engaging the boy with genuine interest and making him feel seen and valued.
Kuttruf said those were the kinds of interactions that best reflected who Noble is as a leader.
“I'd like to thank you, Chief Noble, for your moral compass, your dedication to your employees, and those you swore to protect. For your professionalism, commitment to excellence. Your eternal optimism, and your loyalty, for the pride you instill in each us, and the joy you showed each time you walk into the room,” Kutturf said. “But most of all, I'd like to know you for allowing us a chance to be the most important person in the room.”
Noble closed by thanking his family, colleagues and the Yorktown community before quoting President Ronald Reagan.
“There's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit,” Noble said. You all deserve all the credit. The town of Yorktown will always hold a special place in my heart. You all stay safe. God bless."
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