ONEONTA -- A change in command at the Oneonta Police Department will take place over the weekend.
Chief Gary O'Neill's last official day on the job is Saturday, and Lt. Dennis Nayor will be sworn in as chief Sunday.
O'Neill took over at the police department last May in the wake of a police-brutality scandal that resulted in the retirement of former Chief Joseph Redmond.
Nayor briefly led the department between Redmond's retirement and the hiring of O'Neill. He was appointed by the Common Council as chief in December.
O'Neill said Wednesday the department is in good hands with Nayor.
"He's the real deal," O'Neill said. "I know that Lt. Nayor is going to be an excellent chief."
A 17-year OPD veteran, Nayor will take command of a department that has been through a year of transition.
Nayor oversaw the department as interim chief from when Redmond left in March until the time O'Neill assumed the top spot. O'Neill was brought in to oversee administrative and structural changes at the department in the wake of the brutality investigation and the resignation of three officers connected to a 2009 allegation of police misconduct.
The OPD has evolved and is stronger, according to O'Neill.
"I would like the community to know they have a very good police department," O'Neill said. "They have had their nose bent a couple times, but they are now in a very good place."
Mayor Dick Miller said there is widespread support for Nayor.
"Everyone seems to be very supportive of this appointment," Miller said, "and I think that bodes well for him to be successful."
The Common Council set Nayor's base salary at $86,725. Nayor, an officer with the OPD since 1995, will also receive $2,775 in longevity pay, plus a $500 education stipend. That brings his total compensation minus benefits to $90,000.
Redmond, the city's last full-time chief, was making a combined base and longevity salary of $87,345.
O'Neill expects to stay on as a consultant to assist the OPD with its accreditation process. The Common Council in October approved the OPD to seek accreditation from the state Division of Criminal Justice. The state's accreditation program has 132 standards in the categories of administration, training and operations.
"I am very hopeful that he will be able to play that role going forward," Miller said.
A final determination on that should be made by June, he said.
Nayor, a graduate of Jefferson Central School, Hudson Valley Community College and the State University College at Geneseo, is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He is a lead instructor at the Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy and is well-known throughout the local law-enforcement community.
Nayor said Wednesday that he is looking forward to his new role and lauded O'Neill for leaving the OPD in a good position for the change in leadership.
"He has been great to work with," Nayor said.
Nayor said the council is acting on his request as it studies the possibility of keeping O'Neill on as a consultant.
"He has been such an asset to this department," Nayor said. "It would be crazy not to ask someone like that to help with the accreditation."
Nayor said the department is equipping its sergeants with Tasers and installing more security cameras downtown.
"There's not going to be any huge changes," Nayor said.
Nayor said officers will continue to engage the public in positive ways.
"We want a community-oriented policing approach," Nayor said.
Miller said the Common Council will consider restructuring the department to include two lieutenants instead of one as part of the 2013 budget process when it begins in late summer.
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