UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Daniel LaBella has served as Utica's Interim Police Chief since January of 2008, as well as Public Safety Commissioner since May of 2008.

Since taking the positions, LaBella has insisted he has no intention in the permanent chief position, or in taking the civil service exam to do so.

Well, now that's all changed.

Commissioner LaBella said he simply had a change of heart, and decided to take the civil service test back in March.

"I took the exam because the opportunity arose well after the decision was made to make it a promotional examination and I took the test to basically to get another insight on what is on the police chief test and I did it to find out what is on our test to make a better choice on our police chief process ."

After Utica's previous chief C. Allen Pylman resigned in May of 2008, LaBella was named interim Chief. During that same stretch, two deputy chiefs retired. Following the department shakeup back in 2008, here is what LaBella told NewsChannel 2.

"...We have lost our top level command staff...the chief and two Deputy Chiefs. right now the department needs stability. it needs longevity. and we hope to accomplish that by having a permanent civil service chief," LaBella said.

The exam is just one of the factors considered when naming a person to the position of chief - a decision that ultimately rests with Utica Mayor David Roefaro - LaBella's current boss, longtime friend, and the man who appointed him Commissioner of Public Safety after terminating former Public Safety Commissioner Phil Taurisano, after taking office.

Mayor Roefaro can appoint a chief from the top three scores on the civil service exam.

LaBella passed the exam by four points. The reason he was able to take the test, according to LaBella and Mayor Roefaro was due to the actions of the Village of New York Mills.

Following the retirement of Police Chief Brad Frankland, the Village asked Oneida County to hold a Civil Service test, which opened the door for LaBella to join others vying for Utica's seat.

Two test were given simultaneously, one administered by Utica's Civil Service arm, the other by Oneida County according to one of the test takers.

That test was given in early March, but LaBella submitted a doctor's note saying he had pneumonia, and took the test three days later than the other candidates.

LaBella's score, according to the county ranks him in the top four overall, but that number includes everyone who took it, not just those seeking Utica's Chief position. The County's Personnel office which deals with Civil Service testing would not release which Utica residents scored highest citing privacy.

Mayor Roefaro says he'll also consider leadership skills and past performance. After which, he praised LaBella for his job as acting chief saying he "revamped the police department."

"This open competitive examination came well after our decision on how to structure our Police Chief here in the city it could not have been thought out that way, just circumstances surround what happened in Oneida County with other towns and villages that there was a position that became open."

It's fairly common knowledge that the two are friends, but they expressed no concern over the appearance of impropriety, even when considering that the previous Police Chief Pylman had differences with the administration