By Geoff Herbert
syracuse.com
ITHACA — An Upstate New York cop who survived a shooting on the job more than a decade ago has been named Ithaca’s new police chief.
The City of Ithaca announced Monday that Thomas Kelly, a lieutenant in the Schenectady Police Department, will take over as chief of the Ithaca Police Department on Dec. 18. The appointment is contingent on the city council’s Dec. 6 vote after interviewing two finalists for the position and considering input from the department, the search committee, and community members.
Lt. Kelly has 23 years of experience in policing in Schenectady, including as a detective involved with the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, which introduced new tactics in successful homicide investigations, and partnered with state-wide agencies on crime investigations. Kelly has a Master of Public Administration from the University at Albany, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and has a Graduate Certificate in Cyber/Computer Forensics from the University of Louisville.
Kelly and another Schenectady officer were shot in the line of duty in February 2010 while trying to execute a search warrant at a private residence, according to Spectrum News. Their bulletproof vests prevented more serious injuries, and Schenectady police praised them for not firing back at the 24-year-old male suspect, “showing great restraint.”
The suspect was later convicted of attempted aggravated murder and was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison, according to the Times Union.
Ithaca’s Acting Police Chief Ted Schwartz would return to lieutenant of investigations if the council votes to approve Kelly for the job, outgoing Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis said Monday.
Kelly will be paid $150,000 a year with a $50,000 signing bonus paid evenly over 3 years, according to the Times Union.
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