UTICA, N.Y. -- The city of Utica’s new temporary fire chief has officially taken over the job.

Chief James Barefoot was sworn into the position Monday afternoon after the previous interim chief, John Kelly, stepped down.

Kelly was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a deputy chief's son.

Barefoot served Utica's Fire Department for 32 years. Even after going through three new chiefs in the past 14 months, he says he’s sure that Utica's Fire Department will stay strong.

"I have all the confidence in the world; they’re a great fire department. I don't think they need to be coddled at all, and I think that they’re gonna move forward with strength and pride and I’m just there to kinda normalize things and get us moving in a forward progression,” said James Barefoot, the interim Utica fire chief.

Barefoot plans to serve until a permanent chief is found, and has no interest in holding the job long term.