Ithaca’s new police chief is taking over an organization that in recent years has dealt with issues inside and outside the department.

In 2020, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo required all police departments across the state to reimagine their policing policies. Some of the changes considered in Ithaca that caught national attention included creating a team of unarmed responders, revamping officer training and building more community involvement within their ranks.

Ithaca’s new chief is Thomas Kelly. He steps into the role after serving more than 20 years in the Schenectady Police Department. The new chief has only been on the job a short time, coming from a career of police work.

“The city of Schenectady, although it's a larger city, a lot of the issues and societal concerns translate into the issues that Ithaca is seeing that they're dealing with in the community," said Kelly.

He says his focus now is speaking with the community and learning what they want and need from their police.

"At this point, the number one goal for me is building trust between myself and the officers at IPD and, you know, building trust within the community," said Kelly.

His hiring comes after a long stretch without a permanent chief, and shortly after the department negotiated a contract with officers, following more than a decade without one. The addition of Kelly to the force also follows the summer of 2020, when the community protested, pushing back on local and national events, and following the announcement of what some considered to be one of the country’s most ambitious police reforms, including a significant restructuring of the force.

Meanwhile, the police union was pushing back on the reimagining police proposal, beginning with a press conference in February 2021 after the initial reimagining report was released.

"But ultimately, I think part of what the reimagine process is is really stepping back and looking for solutions that work," said Kelly.

The police union has also expressed concerns in the past about recruiting new officers to the department. Kelly says the department is already moving in a positive direction.

"We've already started to add staff. We've already had renewed interest from laterals, there are more people signing up now to take the police exam," said Kelly.

With an eye toward community conversation, time will tell where the new chief takes the department. Kelly also said that he’s excited for the new opportunity, adding he’s never been one to shy away from a challenge.