Potsdam Village Board accepts police chief’s resignation

POTSDAM - It’s now official.

The village’s top cop is moving on.

The village board, minus the absent Reinhold J. Tischler, unanimously accepted the retirement of Chief Edward F. Tischler Monday night, finalizing the chief’s decision to step down from his post. The move will become effective March 31.

“We will definitely miss him, and we wish him well in his new endeavors,” Mayor Steven W. Yurgartis said.

In the meantime, the village has already turned its sights forward as the search for Mr. Tischler’s replacement is set to being shortly, the mayor said. He is hoping to have filled the position by the time Mr. Tischler leaves office.

“Our goal is to have someone in place so there’s an overlap and continuity in the department business,” Mr. Yurgartis said.

Before that can happen, village officials will have to work through the legal issues involving filling a civil service position. In an effort to gain some guidance, the village has already contacted a county civil service agency and legal counsel to determine its options.

Whether they are required to hire someone from within the department or have the option of looking outside for a replacement still remains unclear, Mr. Yurgartis said.

If the village decides to hire in house, Lt. Mark Murray and Sgt. Kevin Bates are believed to lead the field of potential candidates for the post, sources familiar with the department said last week.

Mr. Yurgartis, however, refused to speculate on the potential candidates or where they will come from.

“We do not know what our options are yet,” he said.

In late January, the chief informed the village of his intentions to retire when he submitted a letter to the Board of Trustees. The announcement came just a year and a half after he accepted the position, replacing John A. Kaplan.

After 24 years of law enforcement, 21 1/2 of which came at the Potsdam Police Department, Mr. Tischler said he was simply looking for a change.

The chief admitted he had originally planned to hold the post for a longer period of time, but had since decided now was a good time to make the change to his new career as a private investigator for a Syracuse-based firm.

Village officials, including Mr. Tischler, have insisted his decision to step down was not related to the ongoing investigation into the death of 12-year-old Garrett J. Phillips.

post for a longer period of time, but had since decided now was a good time tomake the change to his new career as a private investigator for a Syracuse-based firm.

Village officials, including Mr. Tischler, have insisted his decision to step down was not related to the ongoing investigation into the death of 12-year-old Garrett J. Phillips.