Updated 06/12/2009 05:59 AM
Chief Tuffey back on the job
ALBANY, N.Y. -- After joining in the announcement that there is a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed Ualbany Student Richard Bailey last October, James Tuffey asserted himself as the man in charge of the APD, even though he is no longer a sworn police officer.
"The technicality of being certified, I'm not worried about that. I'm not a guy who's out there kicking doors in. That's not my job. I'm an administrator," Tuffey said.
Tuffey's status as a sworn officer came into question a couple of weeks ago, and as it turns out, he hasn't been certified since retiring from the force in the mid 90s. But he said the lack of police powers, including the ability to carry a handgun, won't get in the way of further reducing crime.
"I've made changes in this police department for the better of this police department. This department is running a lot more efficiently today than it was when I came in," Tuffey said
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"He's where he belongs. He's the chief of this police department and he's going to continue to lead it. And we've had great results under his leadership and I look forward to continued positive results," said Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings.
But not everyone is as excited to see Tuffey back to work. Common Council President and mayoral candidate Shawn Morris is calling on Mayor Jennings to immediately fire Tuffey because she said the chief had been carrying a handgun illegally for several years.
"In a city where there is so much, so many problems with guns, we need to be sure that the police chief is following the rules. We need to have one set of rules for everybody in the city and not separate rules for the mayor and his appointees," Morris said.
"I run this city. They don't run this city. I made the decision. I'll stand by it. They should do what they do in their own private lives," Jennings said.
Morris isn't alone in calling for Tuffey's head. Councilman and fellow mayoral candidate Corey Ellis is also calling on the mayor to fire Tuffey for carrying handguns.
And while he doesn't want to get involved in the politics, Tuffey insists he wasn't carrying guns illegally and says he's now focused on moving forward with policing the city.