Ithaca Mayor Lewis has announced the selection of Lt. Thomas Kelly from the Schenectady Police Department as the new Chief of Police for Ithaca.
This appointment, set to be finalized following a council vote on December 6, was made after a thorough selection process involving interviews with two finalists and consideration of feedback from the police department, a search committee, and community members. Kelly, who has a notable 23-year policing career in Schenectady, a city with a population of 67,000, brings extensive experience and a diverse background to the role.
Throughout his tenure in Schenectady, Kelly has served in various capacities, starting as a Patrol Officer before ascending to the ranks of Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, and Patrol Lieutenant. In his most recent position, he has overseen the adherence to department regulations and policies among subordinate staff, represented his agency in community engagements addressing local safety needs, and managed career development and training programs for his team. His tenure as Detective Lieutenant was marked by significant contributions to the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, innovative approaches in homicide investigations, and collaborations with state-wide agencies on crime probes.
Kelly’s educational background complements his extensive field experience. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University at Albany, is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy, and has a Graduate Certificate in Cyber/Computer Forensics from the University of Louisville. His tenure as Ithaca’s Chief of Police is set to commence on December 18, 2023. In the interim, Mayor Lewis expressed gratitude to Acting Chief Schwartz for his leadership and support during the transition, who will resume his role as Lieutenant of Investigations and continue to contribute positively to the department.
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