Since taking over as police chief in January, Brian Kilcullen has made it his duty to attend neighborhood association meetings.

And he wants his officers, who patrol the streets of this 11-square-mile city of roughly 66,135 residents, to make it their business to spend more time getting to know the neighborhoods and people they are charged with serving and protecting.

"I'm enjoying being part of a big change with the department and its relationship with the community," said Kilcullen during a wide-ranging recent interview where he outlined his vision for this once-beleaguered police force that over the years has worked to clean up its act and restore public faith.

"We want the confidence of City Hall, residents, and leaders of the community, that we're providing a valuable service."

Darlene Lee, vice president of The New Independent Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association, said she has been impressed so far by Kilcullen's actions.

She recalled how he shared his crime-fighting strategies at a meeting of the Schenectady Neighborhood Watch, an umbrella group of neighborhood groups in the city.

"Brian has been very supportive of the neighborhood watch," said Lee, who lives with her husband, Fred Lee, on Stanley Street. "I like what he's doing and have noticed an improvement."

The chief said he is confident the department's problems with a handful of rogue cops is in the past and that the officers on the force now will think twice about how their behavior in and out of uniform could affect the 138-member department and city.


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To be fair.

Quoted Text

But just after giving those statements during an interview with the Times Union, Schenectady Detective John Hotaling was charged last week with two counts of misdemeanor menacing for allegedly pointing a gun at motorists during a road rage incident April 7 in Glenville.

"Despite our best efforts to send a strong message that we will not tolerate any degree of misconduct, we're faced with another situation that brings discredit to the department," Kilcullen said when news of Hotaling's arrest broke. Hotaling is on unpaid leave pending an internal department investigation.

Referring to arrests of officers, mostly for off-duty problems, Kilcullen said before Hotaling's charges:

"The answer to any question when it comes to making decisions is to keep in the back of your mind what's best for the department and the city in our mission to provide the level of service the public expects from us," the chief said.

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I realize Brian's been on the job not quite 4 months, but I'm confident that he will reach his goals and the city will be a better place because of his efforts.

He will do a great job