Schenectady's next police chief may be outsider

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Then Schenectady Police Chief Mark R. Chaires, right, speaks at the Schenectady Police Departments Awards Ceremony with assistant chiefs Patrick Leguire, left, Brian Kilcullen, Michael Seber, and Kack Falvo May 15, 2012.

Mayor Gary McCarthy plans to conduct an outside search for Schenectady’s next chief of police.

Assistant chiefs Michael Seber and Patrick Leguire are on the civil service list and eligible to be the next chief, but McCarthy said he plans to have an open application period to find other potential candidates.

The search comes as Chief Brian Kilcullen prepares to take a job as the head of the police department in Rutland, Vermont. He is expected to enter his new role Nov. 2; his contract as chief awaits approval by the Rutland City Board of Aldermen. The Rutland Police Department has 40 officers, compared to Schenectady’s 148.

It is unclear when Kilcullen’s last day with the Schenectady Police Department will be. McCarthy said he has not yet received a formal resignation. Kilcullen is out of town until Thursday and could not be reached.

“He needs to wait until the Oct. 10 board meeting for them to approve the proposed labor contract,” Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said. “At that point, if everyone is in agreement, it will be a done deal and he would have to advise the mayor as to the term of his departure.”

Bennett said because there are fewer than three names on the civil service list, McCarthy is not restricted to choosing the next police chief from that list.

Bennett and McCarthy said they have not yet had discussions with Seber or Leguire to see if they are interested in being the next chief. The two assistant chiefs did not return requests for comment Wednesday.

“Gary has a lot on his plate, and at some point we will sit down and wait to see what Brian gives us for dates and decide which avenue to take,” Bennett said. “We will talk about it in the next few weeks.”

McCarthy said he would require the next chief to live in the city; neither Seber or Leguire live there now. If a new chief is not named by the time Kilcullen leaves, Bennett would oversee the department.

Kilcullen has served as chief since January 2013 and first joined the department in February 1994. He lives in Schenectady with his parents during the week and stays in Saratoga Springs on weekends, McCarthy said.

Kilcullen, a Schenectady native, earned a gross salary of $134,393 in 2014, making him the 10th highest-paid city employee.

“Everyone was pleased with the job he was doing but this is an opportunity and he’s at that point in his life to look at other avenues to pursue,” Bennett said. “We will definitely miss him. Obviously I wish him well, but if he changes his mind I won’t be disappointed.”

While chief, Kilcullen took a data-driven approach to reducing crime. He also worked to promote relationships between police and the community. Kilcullen played in the Community-Police Basketball League at Jerry Burrell Park in Hamilton Hill and touted the games as a way for officers to connect with young people in the neighborhood.

“He is all over the place, that’s the best way to describe it,” Bennett said. “He was at the basketball court for the league, at the scene of major incidents and the scenes of less-major incidents. He lives the job completely, and nobody should be disappointed in the job he has done.”