Canandaigua has a new police chief. Matthew Nielsen will be taking over for Stephen Hedworth, who retired last week.

Nielsen has worked at the Canandaigua Police Department since 2016 and previously served as a lieutenant and acting chief at the Fairport Police Department.

Canandaigua officials tell Spectrum News that Nielsen has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience.

"I am most proud of my decision four years ago to return to serve the citizens of Canandaigua. This decision was a full of unknowns and was considered by others in the law enforcement profession as big risk for a person who was at this phase of their career. This was what I consider as the best decision that I have made in my professional career. Words cannot describe the fulfillment my career path has taken since coming home to work in Canandaigua. It is quite an experience to be completely connected, both personally and professionally, to your jurisdictional area of employment and its citizens.  I was quite proud when I was promoted to serve as a Sergeant in my "home town" last year, and now I am very humbled by the amount of support and confidence that other have in me to lead the Canandaigua Police Department into the future as the Chief of Police," Nielsen said.