City appoints police Lt. Jarrod Trombley to chief post

PLATTSBURGH | The City of Plattsburgh Common Council approved Mayor Wendell Hughes' appointment for City Police Department chief, naming Lt. Jarrod Trombley to the post. Council also approved Hughes' appointment of Joel Vassar as city police captain. Trombley, a 20-year city PD veteran, was one of three lieutenants on the force. He has been managing the department since the start of this year. Vassar has served as first sergeant. "The search for a new police chief began in January 2025," Mayor Hughes said in a May 14 news release, the day before the council meeting. "Many inquiries were received and resulted in four Clinton County Civil Service qualified applicants. Two applicants withdrew for personal reasons and two applicants moved on in the process to be interviewed by a Police Chief Search Committee." Hughes said the committee interviewed candidates on May 7. Local leaders on the committee were former Mayor James Calnon (chairperson); City Mayor Pro tempore and Councilor Julie Baughn; Clinton County Director of Community Services Richelle Gregory; county Department of Social Services attorney Patrick McFarlin; former city mayor and councilor Jeff Moore; and retired federal officer, previously District 3 Fire Chief, Scott Ewing. CONTENTION The May 14 appointment met both contention and support. Trombley had returned to the city police force in January after being suspended in 2024. The city's police union, Plattsburgh Police Local 812, voted on the consideration, which was in discussion mid-February, sharing a vote of no confidence via social media: "The body of the Plattsburgh Police Local 812 held a vote with regard to the return of Jarrod Trombley as the head of the department. The body voted that it does not have confidence in Jarrod Trombley heading our department, contrary to any statements made by City officials," the union said. Former City of Plattsburgh Mayor Christopher Rosenquest had requested an investigation into police department operations last November, alleging elements of wrongdoing. The council did not take up the matter at that time. In January this year, Hughes hired legal and law enforcement consultants to conduct what he said was a comprehensive review of the city's police department. Outside agencies retained were Bond, Shoeneck & King PLLC law firm and M.M. Rusin Consulting LLC., both firms based in Syracuse. Results of the review were not discussed in open city council meetings due to confidentiality in personnel matters. With the Police Chief Search Committee recommendation, Hughes moved to appoint Trombley. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public Comment address at the city meeting May 15 was prefaced with the mayor's review of rules, advising against personal attacks, urging speakers to focus remarks to the council, keeping Trombley's name out of comments. Resident April Wood compiled a 65-page document and presented it to council members. The information, she said, was gathered via Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) from city records. She alleged, generally, that there were Formal Section 75 Civil Service allegations made against the candidate for chief. Wood read through the information, naming Trombley several times. She was asked by the mayor not to address the candidate by name and speak solely to the council. After the third mention by name, Hughes asked Wood to end her comments. "You don't like what I have to say about your candidate," she said, contesting his request for her to leave. "I heard what you said," Hughes replied, moving to restore order. "I asked you to leave the room." "I'm not leaving the room," Wood said. She was escorted from council chambers by city police. "Let's keep this professional, please," the mayor said. Several subsequent speakers were also reminded not to refer to the candidate by name. Joan Jansen spoke, saying she hadn't heard the appointment was coming until it made news headlines May 14. "I found that interesting for two reasons," she said, implying that the decision was already made before council voted, without accounting for findings in the study. "You have spent taxpayer money without any consideration for the results." The chief of police should field an impeccable candidate, Jansen said. "Perhaps the worst part about appointing such a terribly flawed candidate is the message that you send to the officers who will work under his charge," she said, asking, "How can we hold the staff to equally high standards? ...You who have been elected locally are presented now with an opportunity to show local constituents that you can serve as examples of ethical politicians... Please do the right thing and appoint someone worthy of being our chief of police." City resident Denise Nephew spoke in support of the proposed new chief and captain, basing her remarks specifically on working with Trombley and his efforts to help reduce the feral cat population. "This council already knows the (PD review) findings. Keep this in mind," she said. "We need to get a lot of things back that have been lost in this police department," Nephew urged. "I worked with this police chief... He can listen," she said. "He has listened for the last seven or eight years. "We need somebody we can relate to," she said. "We need to mend this city and go ahead, because I've already seen a difference in the police presence in this community. Please, I am all for this with these two men." Jack Stewart, former mayor and councilman, stepped to the microphone. "You can't run a department the size of the police department with no chief," he said, recalling conditions in Common Council chambers when he became mayor after his predecessor's sudden departure. "I'm proud of you people. Some days you have to do things you don't want to do," Stewart said. "I'm glad we're going to get a chief. We've got a good city, let's keep it." Another resident, Jarod Tarbox, said the city "doesn't need more finger pointing, it needs forgiveness and empathy. ... People are tired of the chaos, tired of the distrust ...tired of the same broken cycle." Leadership, Tarbox said, is about showing up. "It's about making people feel safe, not anxious every time they see blue lights in their rear view mirror... Don't delay," he said. "We need a new police chief and we need it now." City resident Jim Votraw expressed concern about the process and the fact that there has been an investigation without any public summary. "Some people have said you all know what the results are," Votraw said. "As our representatives, I wish you'd share it with us before you make a decision on a chief of police.... We need to see the facts that we paid to find out about." Retired city police officer, former Lt. John Stewart, said he worked with Trombley and affirmed his leadership ability. "He has commitment, and he's just a good individual that would serve the Plattsburgh Police Department very well." The roll call vote came in 4-1, with Councilor Jennifer Tallon abstaining from the vote, which counts as a no. The same 4-1 vote came in for Vassar's appointment to police captain. With council approval, Trombley and Vassar take office on May 16, according to the mayor's press release. "I expect Lieutenant Trombley will prove to be an exemplary chief for our city," Hughes said in the release. "He has over 20 years with the City Police Department and with the able assistance of our new Police Captain, Joel Vassar's leadership will move the department forward. I thank them both for their willingness to serve and very much look forward to working with them as we improve Community Policing and assist those in our community facing mental health and addiction issues."

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City appoints police Lt. Jarrod Trombley to chief post

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