Young to retire; Miller to be top cop for Williamsport
After just two years leading the Williamsport Bureau of Police, David J. Young plans to retire as police chief in January as Mayor Gabriel J. Campana named his replacement, Capt. Jody Miller, a 19-year veteran in the department.
Campana chose City Council’s finance committee to announce Young’s impending retirement in January and the effective date Miller will be named top cop of the 51-person department.
Young, who was in attendance, was paid $89,000 a year but received benefits as part of his retirement from the state police, Campana said. “He won’t receive a city pension for his two years of service,” Campana said.
City pensions are granted to individuals who work a total of 12 years, according to finance office personnel.
Young was given high marks for his additional management and security measures he brought in using his years of state police experience as a guide.
Under Young, the city began to cut down on the amount of overtime hours expended by the creation of a flex-shift for officers. The flex shift allowed officers to choose their hours, fill in for those sick or missing, and avoid missing critical coverage events.
Security measures at City Hall’s police headquarters were tightened under Young, with police headquarter’s doors locked and accessible by police and city staff with identification.
In terms of the police changes on the upcoming challenging budget, the department has historically been budgeted at $9.1 million, as of the last budget. Campana estimates about $100,000 a year in savings by elevating Capt. Don Mayes to assistant chief of the department and not filling his soon-to-be vacant police position. “There will be a chief and Mayes in command and that’s it,” Campana said.
Miller’s salary and benefits will be part of the upcoming proposed 2019 budget talks, Campana said.
It is expected Miller will take the oath of office on Jan. 12, 2019.
Miller, who also was present, said the department would continue to take a philosophy of service, building bridges and not burning them and a commitment to protect and serve.
At that, Councilwoman Liz Miele told the mayor it was good to hear the plans ahead of time.
Miele also asked the mayor if there would be enough command staff in the chain should there be any retirements or sudden resignations. Campana said he conferred with Young and Miller on the matter and it should be revisited by the end of next year, he said.