Moore to take charge of agency that spends 30% of city’s budget
HUDSON—State Police First Sergeant L. Edward Moore, 52, of Clermont was appointed the new chief of the Hudson Police Department, yesterday, March 6.
Former Chief Ellis Richardson retired February 25 after serving for 14 years as the city’s first African-American chief.
A press release from the Mayor’s Office said the appointment by Police Commissioner Gary Graziano is provisional pending selection of a permanent chief from a certified civil service list to be published in mid- or late-2014.
Chief Moore will assume his new post March 18, following an 11 a.m. swearing in ceremony at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street. The public is invited.
“Ed Moore has had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement during which he acquired unique and valuable skills to serve the City of Hudson and our police force well during this time of transition. Over the next two years, the city expects to construct a new police and court facility. Mr. Moore has overseen the planning and design of two police facilities. He also has maintained a high level of morale and integrity among the hundreds of law enforcement officers he has supervised during his 32 years of service. I look forward to him working with the officers of the HPD,” Commissioner Graziano said in the release.
According to the new chief’s resume, he is in the midst of overseeing a $2 million construction project at Troop K headquarters in Millbrook, which includes the installation of security features and improvement of electrical infrastructure.
In 2002, he was responsible for the planning, design and construction of the new trooper’s barracks in Livingston. While completing the transition from the State Police’s 40-year zone headquarters in Claverack to Livingston, Mr. Moore worked closely with local government officials, state and county agencies, as well as many contractors and businesses.
As a 32-year veteran of the State Police, Mr. Moore is the highest ranking and longest serving non-commissioned officer in the four county region of the Mid-Hudson River Valley. He was honored with the rank of first sergeant of Troop K. Only nine other State Police members hold this prestigious position, known as “the Sergeant’s Sergeant,” says the resume. Mr. Moore is in charge of the headquarters facility, responsible for the supervision of 20 civilian staff, developing special details and plans for Troop K’s activities. He oversees the maintenance of the troop’s more than 300 vehicles, and the purchases of all supplies and equipment.
Hudson Mayor William Hallenbeck said in the release, “As a former Hudson Police officer, I enthusiastically support Mr. Moore’s appointment as Police Chief. I am confident he will assist the City in reorganizing the police force to make it more cost effective for the city while maintaining a high level of public safety and professionalism among the officers. After meeting Mr. Moore, I am certain the members of the HPD will join me in welcoming the new chief and quickly develop a strong and positive working relationship with him.”
In a phone interview Tuesday, Mayor Hallenbeck said the commissioner had interviewed six or seven candidates over the past month.
The announcement of the former chief’s retirement February 5, came just a week after a second instance of mishandled evidence by officers of the city Police Department resulted in the dismissal of criminal charges against a defendant, bringing to three the number of people released in the past two months because police failed to turn over or disclose crucial evidence.
Asked if the former chief’s retirement was planned, the mayor said, “incentives for the purpose of savings were offered.”
The Police Department accounts for $3 million of the city’s $10-million annual budget. The force is made up of 26 officers and includes lieutenants, sergeants, investigators, a juvenile aid officer and patrol officers.
The new chief’s salary will be $80,000/annually, and will be a savings to the city, the mayor said, noting that the city is looking at restructuring the department keeping in mind “an obligation to residents of the city to cut costs without reducing services.”
As for Mr. Moore’s connections to Hudson, the new chief wrote in an email that he was born there. His grandparents emigrated from the Ukraine and settled on lower State Street. His parents attended Hudson High School and were married at the Baptist church on Union Street. His grandmother worked in the knitting mills. He played basketball at the Boy’s Club on Third Street, and Carmine Pierro once gave him an award for being “Teenager of the Month” at the Elks Club.
He took his driving test in Hudson and said he bought his wife’s engagement ring at Maratsky’s. Despite living seven miles away, the City of Hudson was an integral part of his upbringing. “It is a grand city with a rich history. I would like to be part of its history as it continues to evolve and improve,” said the email.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
