Alex Bay has a provisional police chief

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Brian K. Mullaney was appointed provisional police chief by the village Board of Trustees on Thursday evening during a special meeting.

The vote was 3-1. Trustees Stephen M. Derrigo, Brent H. Sweet and George H. Burtch voted in favor of the appointment; Trustee Richard L. Drake was opposed.

Former Police Chief Daniel L. Sacco's resignation was effective at noon Thursday. The village board agreed in March to pay Mr. Sacco his $51,311 salary for a year after his resignation to avoid litigation.

"Within the Police Department there was a lot of turmoil," Mr. Burtch said. "In my opinion we had nothing but trouble."

However, several people who attended Thursday's meeting argued that the new chief will bring more troubles to the village.

"There have been so many bad things I've heard," Norman I. Hutchinson said at the meeting.

Among the complaints were that Mr. Mullaney left his last job amid a sex scandal.

In April 1999, Mr. Mullaney resigned as a Gouverneur village police officer over an affair with another officer, Lisa A. Francia. The affair became public knowledge when Gouverneur-area residents listening to police scanners overheard explicit conversations between the pair.

"This is a temporary appointment for one year. A year from now the chief we pick today may not make it into the next round," Mayor Terry J. Robb said at the meeting.

Once the provisional appointment ends in June 2009, three candidates will take a police chief exam, and the village board will vote again in September.

Mr. Robb and Mr. Sweet interviewed six candidates for the provisional position April 15.

Mr. Robb said the decision was based on several criteria, including the available work hours, proximity of applicants' residence to the village and social skills.

"We want the chief to work weekends, the busy time," Mr. Robb said.

He said that Chief Sacco had not been able to work many hours and that the village wanted more commitment from the new police chief.

"We want him at every board meeting," he said.

Mr. Robb said Mr. Mullaney worked as a part-time officer for the village for many years.

"Brian's been with us about 20 years," Mr. Robb said.

As of June 1, Mr. Mullaney will be paid $23 an hour and will work an average of 30 hours a week, making his annual salary about $36,000.

Mr. Robb said the village also plans to cut back on part-time officers and hire more full-time staff.