The city of Ithaca announced the selection of a new police chief on Monday afternoon.

Thomas Kelly, a lieutenant in the Schenectady Police Department, would take over as chief of the Ithaca Police Department on Dec. 18, pending an affirmative city council vote scheduled for Dec. 6, Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis said.

Kelly would assume the roles of Acting Police Chief Ted Schwartz, who would return to lieutenant of investigations if the council votes to approve Kelly for the job, Lewis said.

Kelly has served in policing jobs for 23 years in Schenectady, first as a patrol officer and then as a sergeant, detective lieutenant and patrol lieutenant. In February 2010, Kelly and another Schenectady patrol officer were shot by a 24-year-old man while trying to execute a search warrant at a private residence, according to police. The officers' bulletproof vests prevented a more serious injuries. Schenectady police said the officers did not fire back, showing great restraint.

Kelly has a master's degree in public administration from the University at Albany, and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He also earned graduate certificate in cyber/computer forensics from the University of Louisville.

Kelly has experience overseeing a department's regulations and policies, has represented a police agency in his community and introduced new tactics in homicide investigations, partnering with statewide agencies on crime investigations, Lewis said.

Two finalists were interviewed for the position. The choice was made with input from the department, a search committee and members of the community, Lewis said.