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Q&A: Riverhead police officer, Navy vet returns home

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Tim McAllister, his partner, Deanna Ziegler, and his 8-year-old daughter, Hollie, at his homecoming at MacArthur Airport Saturday night. (Credit: Courtesy photo)
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Tim McAllister, his partner, Deanna Ziegler, and his 8-year-old daughter, Hollie, at his homecoming at MacArthur Airport Saturday night. (Credit: Courtesy photo)

Riverhead police officer Tim McAllister joined the U.S. Navy straight out of college in 1991, armed with a Coast Guard license and a desire to serve. But the Southampton Town resident never expected to serve decades later in an inland country — or being asked to speak at a police academy graduation in a nation torn by war. 

“I’ve had a lot of different opportunities and that’s probably the one thing that inspires me to stay in,” he said in a recent interview. “When you start to get comfortable, they put a little more on your plate.”

He’s been on more tours of duty than he can remember off-hand, ranging from aid efforts in Haiti to dealing with Somali pirates off the coast of Africa.

On Saturday night, after half a year of training Afghan police forces on a military base in Kandahar, Mr. McAllister returned home to a hero’s welcome at MacArthur Airport, greeted by his 8-year-old daughter, Hollie, and his partner, Deanna Ziegler.

The 22-year Navy veteran and longtime cop spoke with the News-Review this week about the challenges of a new mission, the bravery of the police officers he trained overseas and how support from those at home helped him through his most recent tour of duty.

Q: What was your mission while you were in Afghanistan?

A: I was involved with the reconstruction teams, so we were helping to rebuild the Afgahni police and army units. I went over as a supervisor. Three different teams, but I shifted jobs about halfway through my tour and I took over a [Security Force Advise Assist Team] that was attached to the Afghan border police. I directly interacted with a one-star and a two-star Afghan general.

Every time I had to brief my Army counterparts I said, “You sent a Navy guy to a land-locked country and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.” But this whole war doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Q: For 13 years, the U.S. has had a military presence in Afghanistan, and many soldiers — American and allied forces — have lost their lives. What inspires you to continue the mission?

A: One of the most powerful facts I learned while I was over there was … when we started going over and trying to figure out the problem, one of the things we identified was the lack of education. Schools were one of the first things [set up] after hostilities ended.

We worked with a couple of schools while I was over there. Those [first] children, 5 to 13, are now 13 years later — ages 18 to, say, 30. It’s almost expected that their children will get an education and go to school. Before, that opportunity wasn’t there. 

Q: What moment from your tour stands out the most?

A: I was asked to attend the biggest graduation ever of the Kandahar police academy, and I was actually asked to speak. Being there and looking at the future of the Afghan police department, looking out at 350-plus very young men eager to go into harm’s way to defend their country and fight for their country — ’cause that’s what they’re doing right now — it was very humbling.

I let everybody there know I was honored to be there. You know, I’m a police officer from New York. I spoke a little bit about living through the events of 9/11, how that was a terrible thing, but I told the men how impressed I was with their training. I had watched them from day one. Looking out, I was very proud and confident in the future of Afghanistan with these men protecting them.

Q: That must have been emotional, knowing the dangers these graduates would face.

A: The average attrition rate for Afghan police is 20 percent. Hey, a year from now, there’s a good chance 20 percent of these guys aren’t going to be here, either through AWOL, sickness and unfortunately straight-up combat. The police tactics I’ve learned at the Riverhead Police Department are a little different from their everyday reality. It’s not really policing, but it’s not really army. It’s somewhere in between.

I have a lot of friends who are over there, and I worry about them … In my tenure, we had three classes of females graduate. These brave young women were working with the guys I was training. Some of these women had to be escorted to and from the academy because of threats made against them.

One of the females I graduated, whose hand I shook in graduation, was involved that night in a gunfight and she was shot. And I was not allowed to visit her in the hospital, but people I know did. She said, “As soon as I’m healed up, I’m going back to work. I’m ready to get back out and do the job.” That’s the tenacity these young men and women have toward securing their country.

Q: What kind of support did you get from home during your time abroad?

A: It was a bit overwhelming and definitely a bit humbling … There was a lot of unexpected support. Somehow Boots on the Ground New York got hold of my name. They probably sent about 50 packages out to me and my guys. Eastern Suffolk BOCES Office Skills class had adopted us, there was Cub Scout Pack 333 from East Setauket. Islip and Babylon, the Rotary Club and I believe the Kiwanis Club.

Just through word of mouth, a whole bunch of folks from all over the country, places I’ve never heard of, sent us letters, packages of support. It really made a big difference over the holidays. It was very difficult being away from family and it was very humbling to know someone was thinking of us over there. I appreciate all those folks for thinking of us.

[On Saturday night], I believe it was the vets group, the Manorville Fire Department, a number of other fire departments, Suffolk County police came out and gave us an escort home. I think 15 motorcycles surrounded our car.

I think at that point it was a little tough for my daughter … I think that made a big impression … She didn’t understand what I was doing, but she knew it was important. I really appreciate that.

psquire@timesreview.com