Mayor To Chart Transition
After Chief Nayor Resigns
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – In response to Police Chief Dennis Nayor’s resignation to take an Albany job, Mayor Gary Herzig today said he will meet with Nayor, Police Lt. Douglas W. Brenner, and City Hall’s Personnel Director Katie Bottinger in the next few days to chart steps going forward.
“It’s a loss for Oneonta,” the mayor said of the news that Nayor will become director of research, development and training at the state Association of Police Chiefs, “but a gain for the rest of the state, who will have the opportunity to learn from him.”
Earlier this morning, the city announced that Nayor would be stepping down as chief in January 2017, a position he has held since 2012. “He has really created a department that is a shining example of how a police department should operate,” said Herzig.
“He has been a great ally with the state police,” said Maj. James Barnes, Troop C commander. “He’s a true professional, and I enjoyed working with him.”
“He’s moving on to bigger things,” said Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon. “We’ve worked together as long as he’s been here, and he’s always been easy to work with.”
Formed in 1901, the Association of Chiefs of Police is a not-for-profit organization that supports more than 500 police chiefs statewide. Its website states that its primary objective is to “achieve professional recognition, uniformity of operation and the advancement of the general welfare of the police profession through the education of its members.”
“It’s a bigger platform to do good things for law enforcement,” said Nayor.
