LOCKPORT – With its deputy chief having retired last month, the Lockport Police Department is seeing some restructuring as it moves a number of its police officers up the ranks.
Ron Huff, who was a lieutenant, was sworn in Wednesday to take over Dave Draksler's vacated deputy chief position at the City Council's Committee of the Whole meeting. Draksler retired last month after 28 years with the department.
Huff, who has been with the department 13 years, will be the department's second deputy chief.
The position was created by Police Chief Terry Lemming last year after he took over the top rank amidst some controversy because he was an outside hire. Lemming then appointed Draksler, who had been acting chief for about a year until Lemming was hired and who had sought the permanent chief position.
Lemming had said at the time that the restructuring was necessary to increase the department's efficiency and accountability.
Also promoted were Rich Harang, formerly a sergeant, who took the vacated lieutenant's position, and John Arizzi, who will fill the sergeant's position.
Harang and Arizzi have been with the police department for 16 and 10 years, respectively.
"These [men] are very dedicated, very knowledgeable and well-respected within the police department, and will bring it to a new level," Lemming said after the meeting.
The police department is also in the process of hiring a new officer to fill the position vacated by Arizzi, he said.
Mayor Steven Streit said he was excited to see the officers being promoted and that the restructured police department has given its deserving officers more opportunity for advancement.
Lemming and his officers have been doing "a great job and have worked to build a community department," Streit said, adding that was a vision he had when he took over as mayor.
"It's no secret that there is a lot of anxiety and mistrust of police across the country," Streit said after the meeting.
He said even in communities like Lockport where no controversial events have occurred, officers still feel under pressure.
Streit said he "wanted to build a community where people feel like police officers are more like their big brothers and sisters protecting them rather than a scary person in a uniform."
The department under Lemming has made changes to promote a sense of community rather than exclusivity, Streit said.
For example, officers are encouraged to leave their vehicle when patrolling and engage with residents and business owners.
The department also created the Lockport Love charitable group, which has helped 27 needy families since last year, Lemming said.
Lemming said the department has been approached by Ernest Jones, who is senior pastor of Christ Vision Church in Lockport, to join the department as a chaplain in order to bridge the gap between the African American community and the police.
In September, several members of the Victoria Crossing subdivision collected treats for the police department to show their appreciation in light of criticism of police departments across the country.