Frisoni approved as new Scotia police chief

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

The Scotia Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday night officially appointed Schenectady police Capt. Pete Frisoni as its next police chief.

About 60 people packed Village Hall to extend best wishes to the incoming chief, including Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney and Glenville Police Chief Michael Ranalli.

Mayor Kris Kastberg said the large crowd is a testament to the respect that Frisoni has earned. Fifteen people had applied for the position, according to Kastberg.

Frisoni, 47, has been Schenectady’s No. 2 man in its investigative services bureau since 2007. He also served as the department’s public information officer from 2003-07.

Frisoni will receive a salary of $90,000. He starts Sept. 5 — Labor Day. He plans to meet with residents and business people to get a feel for their issues and concerns.

Frisoni replaces Thomas Rush, who will be returning to his previous rank as sergeant.

Village officials are not sure whether Frisoni will have to take a civil service test to assume the chief’s role, so he is being appointed on a provisional basis. Kastberg said Frisoni took the assistant chief’s test in Schenectady, so that may be sufficient for the much smaller, 13-member village force.

The board also agreed to apply for a section 211 waiver to allow Frisoni to collect his Schenectady pension while working for the village. Kastberg does not think they will be successful because there is one person on the competitive and promotional civil service lists for the position.