City of Ithaca
Chief of Police Search Process
Owego's Top Cop Interviews in Ithaca
The second candidate for City of Ithaca police chief will interview with the screening committee and selected members of the public today.
Owego Chief Robert P. Williams of Tioga County is the second of six candidates who will come to Ithaca seeking the position left vacant in early 1996 when Harlin R. McEwen left for a position with the FBI. Capt. David Barnes has served as acting chief since.
The first candidate was interviewed earlier this month. City officials will not release the names of the candidates or confirm Williams' candidacy.
"These are people who have not notified their current employers and their jobs could be jeopardized if this information got out. We respect that," said city personnel administrator Valerie Saul.
Williams, a lifelong resident of Owego, made history on March 1, 1982, when he became the first African-American chief of the Tioga County village.
If Williams is selected, he will repeat that benchmark, becoming Ithaca's first black chief.
Williams has been involved in a host of community organizations in Owego and Tioga County, including the Broome/Tioga County Literacy Volunteers of America, and the Binghamton Regional Advisory Council to the New York State Division of Human Rights.
The 45-year-old officer first worked with the Owego department as a voluntary cadet in high school. He then served with security police in the U.S. Air Force, the Air National Guard, and the State University of New York at Binghamton.
He also has served in the Tioga County Sheriff's Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney's office, and on police departments in Waverly and Newark Valley.
Each candidate meets for interviews with the 12-member police chief screening committee. They then have nine meetings with representatives of stake-holder groups: Ithaca's neighborhoods and senior citizens; human service agencies; Police Benevolent Association; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community; public safety officials; The Common Council, Commmmunity Police Board and senior city staff; community of color; a youth group; and business, professional groups and academia.
The screening committee will likely narrow the six candidates to three by the end of May.
Mayor Alan Cohen and others will then conduct home visits before making a selection, likely in June. A new chief probably will not be in place before July.
The Ithaca Journal
April 23, 1997
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