WAPPINGERS FALLS – The Wappingers Falls Village Board is planning to reappoint former Police Commissioner Carl Calabrese to his old job this evening (Wednesday), despite having appointed a different candidate earlier this month. Hours before the April 1 reorganization meeting of the village board, Mid-Hudson News reported that Police Commissioner Paul Italiano had submitted his resignation at the behest of the mayor, and the board was contemplating re-hiring Calabrese, who held the position prior to Italiano.
At the meeting, several members of the public chastised the trustees for not renewing Italiano’s contract. Mayor Kevin Huber issued a statement after the meeting, saying “The board is going in a different direction.”
At the April 10 meeting, the board voted to appoint veteran cop Mark Liebermann, as police commissioner. That appointment drew concerns from the PBA attorney, Keith Byron, who questioned if Liebermann met the minimum qualifications for police commissioner. The board then went into executive session and upon reconvening the meeting, announced that Liebermann’s appointment was being rescinded and Italiano was staying on until the April 17 meeting.
On the agenda for Wednesday (tonight), is a resolution naming Calabrese as the new police commissioner, as Mid-Hudson News had reported nearly two weeks ago, which was refuted by Mayor Huber at the time.
Liebermann, meanwhile, withdrew his name from consideration over the weekend. Expressing his frustration with the turbulence of the process, he told Mid-Hudson News, “I thought I could make a difference and keep the department up to the standard that Paul (Italiano) brought the department up to, but I realized the members (police officers) wanted Paul back and I can’t blame them.” He explained why so many officers wanted Italiano back. “He’s a cop’s cop but the village board was not going to reappoint him. “It was a no-win situation and I just didn’t need all the negativity associated with the appointment.”
Mayor Huber has not responded to repeated requests by Mid-Hudson News seeking comment.
