ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – The Ithaca Police Department (IPD) now has a leader at the top, though not yet a permanent one.

Mayor Laura Lewis has announced that Lieutenant Ted Schwartz has been named the Acting Chief for IPD, effective immediately. Schwartz, who is a native Ithacan, will remain in the role until a permanent police chief is chosen by a contracted search firm.

“Lieutenant Schwartz’s long and distinguished service with IPD ideally situates him to fill this role, and I am deeply grateful to him for doing so,” said Mayor Lewis. “This appointment is a crucial and concrete step towards maintaining IPD’s operational integrity and the safety of the public that will allow for a smooth transition to a permanent chief.”

Schwartz, hired by IPD in 2011, oversaw the department’s training division, K9 program, fleet, and special event details as Operations Sergeant. He was promoted to Lieutenant and supervised the midnight patrol until he was named Lieutenant of Investigations in March 2020.

“I look forward to leading the department in this critical time of need, and offering stability until a permanent chief is selected,” said Acting Chief Ted Schwartz. “In the interim, I will be examining different avenues to support the great officers currently at IPD as well as continuing our ongoing recruitment of the best candidates for our vacant police officer positions in partnership with the City Administration.”

Former Acting Chief John Joly took an indefinite personal leave from the department late last month.