Syracuse Police Chief Kenton officially resigned on Friday. Mayor Ben Walsh announced First Deputy Chief Joe Cecile would fill the role.

The anticipated change was still full of surprises for Syracuse residents, many expecting Chief Buckner to share that he would be leaving the Syracuse Police Department. Buckner's resignation was shocking in that he would not be leaving for the anticipated chief's position in Olympia, Washington.

Also surprising some, Mayor Walsh was prepared to name a permanent successor immediately. He did not have to look very far with 37-year Syracuse Police Department veteran Joseph Cecile. 

Cecile offered gracious reflection on his predecessor.

"A lot of it is a credit to Chief Buckner," said Cecile. "He was able to give us a deep bench. He immediately came in and started sending us to training, some training we never even heard of. Deep level command and command level training. And to get us prepared for this."

Chief Cecil shared what he's going to do on his first full day on the job and his top priority.

"Highest priority is tackling gun violence and getting more cops on the street," Cecile said. "First thing I'll probably do is talk to PBA President Joe Moran and see what his thoughts are, see if he has any ideas. And I'll just start talking to some of the officers that have been around a long time. Find out what they're hearing out there. If they think we can do something better. Because if we do it better we can retain them."

He's also very concerned about connecting with his team, boosting morale and their mental health

"Officers go through major traumas when they're arriving on scenes of shootings," the new chief said. "And even worse, when they're arriving on scenes where something has happened to a child. It's terrible. And then we asked them to simply move on to the next call. Their bodies move on, but their brains sometimes don't. So we're going to look at everything we can to see if we can not only boost morale, but boost the mental health and the physical health of the officers.

Some say the announcement immediately boosted morale.

"He's highly regarded amongst the PBA membership," said PBA President Joseph Moran. "He's highly respected in the community, and he's highly respected [by] city hall representatives. So the PBA's position is he would be an appropriate replacement for Chief Buckner."

"My initial reaction again humbled and honored and take this job and to oversee the men and women of this police department that I love, that I have worked with for 37 years," said Chief Cecile.

Cecile was a finalist for the police chief position in 2018 when Frank Fowler retired from the department. At the time, Cecile also received a strong endorsement from Fowler to succeed him.