APD Chief Michael Persley: Position cuts part of reorganization

ALBANY — Albany Police Department Chief Michael Persley said Friday the dismissal of Deputy Chiefs Nathaniel Clark and Mark Scott was part of a reorganization process that has been in the works since he became chief of the department on May 27 last year.

“Our deputy chiefs have been over the bureaus under the system that’s been in place for the past 10 years or so, and I’ve wanted to change that since I’ve been in this position,” Persley said. “Under our reorganization, the majors will be over the bureaus (Uniform, Criminal Investigation, Support Services), and we will name a single assistant chief.

“The decision to dismiss the deputy chiefs was not really a personnel issue. I just think the department will operate better under this reorganization plan. I understand there will be friction from some in the community who support these gentlemen, but this was ultimately a business decision. I’m looking at the department long-term, how to set it up 10, 15 years down the line.”

Albany City Manager Sharon Subadan was in an executive retreat Friday morning when albanyherald.com announced the terminations of Scott and Clark, but she sent a text saying the move was part of the reorganization process of APD.

“Chief Persley is reorganizing (the department) to better serve the public,” Subadan said. “An assistant chief will be hired in the future.”

Persley said he will interview candidates for the assistant chief’s position “within the coming weeks,” but he refuted claims that the department is overly young and understaffed.

“I saw where (Commissioner Bobby Coleman) threw out that big number about open positions, and, yes, we do have some vacancies,” the APD chief said. “But I am concentrating on what I am calling 30 critical vacancies, mostly at the patrolman and corporal level. Part of my reorganization plan is to remove some of the captain-and-above-level positions so that we get more officers on the streets.

“As for inexperience, within the department right now all of my captains have over 20 years’ experience and half of the lieutenants have 25 years’ experience or more. The other half have 15 to 20 years. What we’re trying to do is put together a department that can adapt to a changing society.”

Coleman, who represents Ward II on the Albany City Commission, had criticized the move to eliminate Clark and Scott Friday morning as depleting experience on the force.

“I’m adamantly against getting rid of this much experience on a police force that is very young already,” Coleman said. “Rookies are causing many of the problems associated with our police department, and we let two experienced veterans go.

“It also doesn’t make sense seeing as how we’re already about 55 officers short. This is going to diminish the effectiveness of our police department.”

Ward III Commissioner B.J. Fletcher said Friday she “respects the decision of the chief.”

“It’s not in my nature to micromanage,” Fletcher said. “When individuals are named heads of our departments, we have to have confidence in them and believe that they are doing what is best for the city. I’m confident Chief Persley made his decision to reorganize based on fact.

“I don’t believe we as city commissioners need to get involved in personnel issues. That’s not what we were elected to do.”

Clark has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including positions as chief of police and assistant chief in Pine Bluff, Ark. He joined APD in 2008 and was serving as deputy chief of the department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Scott came to APD in 2009 after a 20-year tenure with the Thomasville Police Department. He left Thomasville with the rank of captain.

Jim West contributed to this report.