TROY – The police department is eliminating its scandal-tarred drug unit and expanding community policing as Chief Brian Owens begins the transformation of the force he took over in February.

Owens plans to deploy 15 percent of the police department's officers into community policing, increasing the ranks 10 to 18 officers, increase contact between police and residents.

Owens took command promising Mayor Patrick Madden that community policing would be a primary focus for him with Assistant Chief Daniel DeWolf and Capt. Christopher Kehn, who is to become an assistant chief.

Owens is eliminating the Firearms Interdiction and Narcotics Suppression Unit, which was rocked by the indictments this year of Detective Sgt. Ronald L. Epstein and Detective John A. Comitale Jr. They are awaiting trial, accused of covering up a warrantless search of an apartment by filing a fake burglary report and leaving behind more than four ounces of cocaine. The four other members of the team have returned to duty in other assignments.

Owens plans to increase the police department's participation in a regional federal task force on drug crimes, in an anti-poverty program and with the city’s neighborhood groups.

“Community policing shouldn’t just be a particular unit. It’s a philosophy. We’re trying to expand that philosophy and mindset throughout the department,” Owens said.

“We want to engage with the people in the city not just in the bad times and the times of calls for services," he said. "We want to get to stepping out in the neighborhoods talking to the people who live there, who work there."

“We’re making a point to be involved," DeWolf said. "We want to get closer to the community. We want us to be out there and for the kids and the community want to approach us.”

Troy has faced public protests over police shootings in recent years, improving community relations is what led Madden to select Owens, DeWolf and Kehn to be the leadership. Chief John Tedesco retired in January.

“Any time we can increase support for the department, it serves us well,” Madden said.

DeWolf will oversee the Community Services Bureau with a captain and two sergeants in charge. The bureau includes the community police unit, school resource officers, the neighborhood conditions team and traffic safety. Owens said that by grouping these units together, the department will gain flexibility and will not have to draw from the patrol division where staffing levels mandate eight officers on patrol per shift.

Getting beat cops and detectives to buy into the changes as positions are moved in the reorganization is needed.

Officer Nick Laviano, president of the Troy Police Benevolent Association, said the sergeants and patrol officers he represents are glad for a new approach.

“Police officers notoriously hate change. We are creatures of habit. But sometimes change is a good thing and every so often change at the top of any organization can breathe new life into the rank and file,” Laviano said. “I think the new chiefs are not autocratic in their efforts to lead the department. I think they value everyone’s insight from the most senior patrolman on down to the brand new officer in the academy."

Owens said a decision to replace the drug unit by assigning officers to the federal task forces required an agreement with the PBA, whose contract calls for bidding for positions by seniority.

“For the first time ever, the PBA and the administration agreed that three positions as liaisons to two federal agencies would not just be selected by seniority. Merit and an interview process would be taken into consideration during selection for each position,” Laviano said.

While the department has an authorized strength of 130, the chiefs have to deal with turnover due to retirements, officers on sick leave and rookies in the police academy. That leaves the department down by 10 to 20 officers at times.

In the past, the department lost officers who left for higher pay elsewhere.

“We’re not losing people to other agencies anymore,” DeWolf said of the new PBA contract with raises that was reached last year.

The goal is building the public’s trust in the police.

“I hope people have the confidence in us and the trust in us in the leadership positions and the department as a whole,” Owens said. “If we make a promise, we want to keep our promise. If we make a mistake, we want to acknowledge our mistake.”