The City of Utica reinstate and promote police officers and firefighters
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: July 20, 2012
The City of Utica held a promotion and rehire ceremony today for the Utica Police and Fire Departments.
Chief Mark Williams of the
Utica Police says it will give the proper supervision needed on the
streets, especially dealing with a spike in the number of calls.
"I will put my public safety, my police and my fire in any city and any town in New York," said Utica's Mayor Robert Palmieri.
With the City of Utica going through budget constraints, earlier this year, the UPD laid off 17 AND demoted 23 officers.
But, Friday morning three
police officers were officially reinstated and nine were promoted. The
Utica Fire Department also promoted three officials.
"The city goes is how the
county goes and we are here to help and because of their help we are
here to put back the supervision that is needed," said Mayor Palmieri.
The Utica Common Council and
the Oneida County Board of Legislators approved an offer made by $78,000
of seized drug money and $22,000 from the county will go to the City of
Utica to make the promotions and reinstatements
happen.
There will also be two
investigators to be put back into the Drug Task Force Center and an
officer will be placed in the Child Advocacy Center as well.
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams says this move is a positive step for the city.
"Having the three additional
officers on the streets give us a lot of flexibility. It allows us to
potentially start up our burglary division unit to address the problems
we have been seeing lately," said Chief Williams.
Chief Williams says the
promotions and rehires will not only give them more control, but more
importantly allow the department to plan long-term of where the agency
is headed.
