Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis has appointed Lt. Ted Schwartz as the Acting Chief of the Ithaca Police Department, effective immediately. This interim assignment is expected to last through the conclusion of the ongoing search for a permanent Police Chief. The search firm contracted by the City has posted the official recruitment announcement for the permanent position this week.
“Lt. Schwartz’s long and distinguished service with the IPD ideally situates him to fill this role, and I am deeply grateful to him for doing so,” said Mayor Laura Lewis. “This appointment is a crucial and concrete step towards maintaining IPD’s operational integrity and the safety of the public that will allow for a smooth transition to a permanent Chief.”
“I look forward to leading the department in this critical time of need, and offering stability until a permanent chief is selected, ”said Acting Chief Schwartz. “In the interim, I will be examining different avenues to support the great officers currently at IPD as well as continuing our ongoing recruitment of the best candidates for our vacant police officer positions in partnership with the City Administration.”
A native of Ithaca, Acting Chief Schwartz was hired by the Ithaca Police Department in 2011. As Operations Sergeant, he oversaw the training division for IPD, K9 Program, Fleet, and Special Event Details. He was then promoted to Lieutenant and supervised the midnight Patrol Platoon until he was re-assigned to Lieutenant of Investigations in March 2020.
