Search for top cop narrowed to three

GUILDERLAND — A field of eight has been narrowed to three in the race for police chief of this suburban town.

Of the two Guilderland officers in the mix, one is in and one is out, said Supervisor Kenneth Runion on Tuesday.  The town board has agreed on the finalists, he said, which include Robert Durivage, who was on a list last year of three eligible candidates from the Civil Service Department; James Tedesco, an officer from Troy who answered an ad recently posted by the town; and Carol Lawlor, a veteran of the Guilderland Police Department who has been acting chief for the last year. 

The formerly all-Democratic town board elevated her to the position when the long-time chief, James Murley, left amid controversy.  Lieutenant Curtis Cox, second in command of the 33-member department, did not make the final cut.  The two Guilderland officers took the promotion-class Civil Service exam on March 8, the results of which won’t be available for another week or so.

The pair have been close throughout the process — in February, they hired attorney Paul Clyne to notify the town of possible legal action stemming from comments made by a freshman Republican on the town board.

Lawlor and Cox sought a lawyer because they wanted “a fair playing field,” Lawlor said at the time.  “I’m a believer of promoting from within if you have qualified candidates,” she said.  “You have two qualified candidates.”

“Carol Lawlor has been here for 30 years,” Cox said yesterday of his colleague.  “She certainly has earned the right to that job.”  He’s pleased that he was considered for the chief’s position, Cox said, but he’s “very comfortable” in the job he now holds.

“It was pretty easy,” Runion, a Democrat, said of the decision on candidates made by the board, which has often been at odds since two Republicans took office in January.  “Pretty much,” he said, “there was a consensus on the final three.”

“It would have been a different combination… if it was up to me,” Republican Mark Grimm said of his thoughts on the choices.  “I agreed only because I saw the handwriting on the wall,” he said.  Grimm and fellow Republican, Warren Redlich, have accused the Democratic majority on the town board of aiming to promote “Town Hall insiders.”

When asked what she will do if she’s passed up for the position, which carries a salary of $84,000 to $92,000, Lawlor said, “I would have to cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Two candidates will be interviewed before the board meeting on Tuesday and the third after the meeting, Runion said.  The first round of interviews covered qualifications and credentials, he said, and he expects that next week’s interviews will delve into the specifics of how each would manage the department.

All three are “very highly qualified,” he said.  “Any one could handle the job.”