Casale, flanked by City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, left, and City Attorney Nicholas Ward-Willis
BEACON – Mayor Randy Casale appointed Capt. Kevin Junjulas as the new Beacon police chief. The appointment is provisional subject to his taking and passing the next civil service test for the position.
The mayor also named Lt. Gary Fredericks to fill the vacant captain’s slot, also on a probationary basis.
Some members of the public had previously sent emails voicing their dissatisfaction with the appointment, which was announced before the formal vote, arguing there was not enough public input in the process and citing the recent removal of US Justice Department oversight of the police department in 2016 as grounds for a more open process to be had. However, a majority of residents who attended Monday night’s city council session voiced support for Junjulas.
Both Casale and the city’s labor attorney said the appointment was the responsibility of the mayor and that the level of public input being asked for by the resident emails could have potentially complicated the process further. Casale said, as the executive for the city, he felt promoting from within was appropriate and was he disturbed by the lack of faith from the minority of residents who wrote in.
“I believe this city is on a good path with this police department; a lot of young officers and disciplined leadership,” said Casale. “When it was bad, and the DOJ did that report, it was because nobody that sat in this seat had the nerve to take control of the police department.”
Casale alleged he has documented proof that there was a leak from one of the council’s executive sessions on the matter. Since it is a personnel matter, the council is not allowed to divulge specifics from executive sessions regarding it, which he said fueled his disappointment.
Junjulas will be on probation for one year, until the time he can take a Dutchess County Civil Service exam. The next one is in March of 2019, at which time the city will choose the permanent chief from the top three scorers. The probationary status will allow for a wider breadth of oversight and if the city is not satisfied with Junjulas’ performance, they may return him to his former position.
