POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Tom Pape, a 41-year department veteran, worked his last shift with the department on Friday. His career of service to the city began in 1983 when he was hired as a patrol officer. During those 41 years, Pape, who attended Dutchess Community College and SUNY College of Technology at Utica, moved from the patrol division to the detective bureau and continued his rise through the ranks before being named chief of the department by then-Mayor Rob Rolison, a retired Town of Poughkeepsie detective.
While announcing Pape’s retirement earlier in the week, Mayor Yvonne Flowers also named Police Captain Rich Wilson as the Interim Police Chief. Wilson has been serving the department in various capacities for more than 30 years.
Under Pape’s leadership, the department made significant investments in body cameras to provide more transparency about how officers operate in the field — and about the situations to which they respond. The department also enhanced its complaint process by improving accessibility and developing a new easy-to-use online reporting tool. Forms can be used to file civilian complaints and to commend the actions of officers.
“I never once woke up and said I don’t want to go there (police dept),” Pape told Mid Hudson News. “I love this place – I always have and I always will.”
Interim Police Chief Wilson has been working with Pape for decades. “He’s been a mentor of mine for the 30 years I’ve been here,” Wilson said. “He’s a cop’s cop – he listens, he understands, and he was loyal to his officers.”
Assistant Dutchess County Executive Chris Baiano represented County Executive Sue Serino and presented a proclamation that May 24, 2024 is “Chief Tom Pape Day” in Dutchess County.
