The head of the Irondequoit Police Department is stepping down to join the Monroe County Executive's administration.

Chief Richard Tantalo will serve as the county's new director of public safety. Tantalo has served as chief of the IPD since 2013 and has nearly 40 years of experience there. 

Town Supervisor Dave Seeley says current Captain Alan Laird will serve as acting chief while the town board works to name a permanent replacement. 

Tantalo said he's learned the importance of community policing during his time in office. He's hoping to bring what he learned in Irondequoit to the table as the public safety director.  

"This next chapter in my life gives me the ability to take what I have learned, learn from my mistakes, learn from those successes that I've been involved in, share that with others," said Tantalo. 

He starts his new role April 6th.