WAPPINGERS FALLS – The latest former Wappingers Falls Police Commissioner, Paul Italiano, has released a statement on social media that gives his account of the recent commissioner debacle in the village. Italiano, a retired cop with 39 years of experience, served one year as the police commissioner in the village where he resides.
“I would like to thank the previous village board for entrusting me with the safety and security of our village residents and businesses over the last twelve months,” he said. “It was my honor to serve this Village as your Police Commissioner.”
Mayor Kevin Huber and the trustees have declined to explain their request for Italiano’s resignation on April 1, other than saying “The board wants to go in a different direction.” The Mid Hudson News coverage of the 17-day saga of calling for a commissioner’s resignation, appointing a new commissioner, rescinding a commissioner appointment, a candidate rescinding his application, followed by re-hiring a former commissioner can be found here.
“I am truly humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support from my staff and the public in an effort to convince the Board of Trustees to keep me as your Police Commissioner,” his statement said. Following the appointment of Carl Calabrese last week, several officers resigned from the department. One of the resigning officers cited Trustee Jeff Smith referring to uniformed officers at a village board meeting as “a lynch mob,” as one reason for his resignation.
Noting the board’s lack of transparency, Italiano says he issued the statement to clear of rumors and speculation that have spread throughout the village, including the board taking disciplinary actions against him. Italiano refutes that rumor. “There were never any disciplinary actions taken or suggested against me for any reason.” His statement to the community where he was born and raised continued, saying “There was never any wrongdoing as I have always served you with the utmost professionalism, integrity and respect.”
Regarding the board’s lack of an explanation for changing commissioners, Italiano wrote, “The reason for the board choosing to go in a different direction was strictly personality based and politically driven. New members of the board campaigned on a platform based upon hearsay and personal perception to terminate my tenure without ever having a single discussion with me personally relative to department operations. This decision by the board had nothing to do with the manner in which I administered the department or served our community.”
Italiano came to the department after a career with the City of Poughkeepsie police department. Coming from a much larger and structured agency, Italiano initiated programs to bring the Wappingers department in line with the new policing standards, required under state law. He says those initiatives were rebuffed by village employees who do not work in the police department, which caused friction and led to the request for his resignation.
He concluded his statement by wishing the former, now-new commissioner, Carl Calabrese well in his new role. Calabrese had served as commissioner from 2009 to 2020. Before resigning from his commission, Calabrese demoted himself to a newly created lieutenant position that he appointed himself to just before leaving his commissioner role.
