Mayor Elect David Roefaro has announced that former Utica Police officer Dan LaBella will be the next public safety commissioner. Roefaro says LaBella was "The best interview we saw and the most qualified."

The appointment comes just about a week after the interviews wrapped up and former Public Safety Commissioner Phil Taurisano was dismissed from the position. Roefaro says LaBella was chosen after several candidates interviewed with not only Roefaro, but his hiring committee. Roefaro says he is aware of the rumors that this position was already assigned once he took office, but says that was not true.

Mayor-elect Roefaro says LaBella will make somewhere in the vicinity of $60,000, about double what outgoing Commissioner Taurisano makes. However, LaBella will not receive benefits, since he already gets them from his retirement plan as a former police officer in Utica. This appointment will be effective when Roefaro's term begins on January 1, 2008.