ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – The Ithaca Police Department has a new top cop.

After several years without an official chief of police, Mayor Laura Lewis has appointed Lieutenant Thomas Kelly of the Schenectady Police Department to the role. Kelly brings 23 years of experience in law enforcement and was one of two finalists who recently interviewed for the job.

Lieutenant Kelly earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Albany, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and has a Graduate Certificate in Computer Forensics from the University of Louisville.

Ithaca Common Council must vote to accept Lieutenant Kelly at their meeting next week on December 6.  If approved, Kelly would begin as police chief on December 18, 2023, and Acting Chief Ted Schwartz would return to his position as Lieutenant of Investigations.