POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Detective Jeffrey Wright, a lifelong resident of Dutchess County, retired from the police force on Friday, ending a 28-year career protecting the city. Wright began his city career as a patrolman in 1996.
Wright spent time in the community policing unit prior to his promotion to detective in 2003.
Beginning in 2000, the now-retired detective served as a crime scene technician, and in August 2000 he was responsible for collecting DNA evidence in the first homicide case in Dutchess County where DNA led to the arrest and conviction of the defendant.
Wright helped establish the Dutchess County Field Intelligence Group and served as the city’s first field intelligence officer. He was assigned to the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force for 10 years where he made numerous federal cases involving violent gangs in Poughkeepsie.
Detective Wright was instrumental in the planning and implementation of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department Discovery Unit following the passage of the discovery reform laws in 2020, according to City of Poughkeepsie PBA President Kevin Van Wagner.
Wright spent time as an instructor for criminal debriefing, crime scene processing, and evidence collection among other topics. The detail-oriented detective also spent time teaching forensics in the Poughkeepsie High School Careers in Law Enforcement program.
Van Wagner said he was disappointed when Wright announced his retirement. “Jeff is a great guy and many suspects were brought to justice because of his diligence. Our members are sad to see him go but we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
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