LaBella jumps the ranks at UPD; Roefaro says he has a year to decide next step

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: May 27, 2008 at 5:50 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 28, 2008 at 9:59 AM EDT

UTICA - Interim Utica Police Chief Dan LaBella didn't climb the ranks at UPD...he jumped them.

LaBella retired from UPD as an investigator assigned to the Child Advocacy Center after more than 20 years on the job. He returns to UPD next week as Chief of Police.

Utica Mayor David Roefaro named LaBella Public Safety Commissioner after the mayoral election in November. LaBella isn't planning any major changes during his interim reign as Chief of the Utica Police Department.

"I'm gonna meet with my command level staff and we're going to talk about several issues. Any major changes? No," LaBella said.

Mayor Roefaro says LaBella can serve as interim Utica Police Chief for up to a year. Roefaro says he has that long to decide whether or not to petition the state civil service commission to allow him to appoint a chief that is not civil service-qualified.
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