TROY – A new police chief and two new assistant police chiefs appointed Thursday by Mayor Patrick Madden will assume leadership of the Troy Police Department as it faces criticism and calls for reform from the public and the state Attorney General’s Office in addition to criminal cases involving the department.

Madden’s promotion of Chief Brian Owens, Assistant Chief Daniel DeWolf and Assistant Chief Christopher Kehn comes a week after he promised to move quickly to establish the next generation of leadership for the 130-member police force.

“It’s a tumultuous time. It’s a time to come out with a statement about the future of the department,” said Madden, who rejected the idea of hiring someone from the outside.

At least one councilman said Thursday the time is also right for a public safety commissioner directly overseeing the department.

The mayor emphasized a return to making community policing a priority, hearing what residents are concerned about and strengthening communications between the police and the community to fight crime.

That’s embodied in the selection of Owens, DeWolf and Kehn, who agree with the mayor on turning away from a situation where officers race from call to call and instead to engage residents.

“We need to get back to the basics of policing. We have to get back out into the neighborhoods where we need to fix problems,” Owens said.

Owens becomes the city's top cop two months after he was sworn in as assistant chief and a month after former Chief John Tedesco retired after fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, for the past three years.

Owens said he recognizes the department has to grapple with demands made by the public and consider recommendations made by the state Attorney General’s Office report into the fatal police shooting of Edson Thevenin by Sgt. Randall French at an April 2016 DWI traffic stop.

“It’s tough. There’s lots going on. We have a lot of good men and women in the department,” said Owens.

DeWolf’s and Kehn’s promotions will set off a domino effect through the lower ranks as two new captains will be named to fill their posts and in turn two new sergeants must be selected from the police officer ranks. French is the top ranked officer on the city’s civil service promotional list for captain. The next four sergeants on the list in order are John H. Becker Jr., Salvatore Carello, Stephen C. Seney and Adam R. Mason.

The Attorney General’s report said it could not comment on French’s action due to the pending criminal case over Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove’s handing of the investigation. Abelove did not require French to waive immunity from prosecution when he testified before a grand jury about the shooting incident.

Owens said he couldn’t comment on the Attorney General’s report finding -- referring to the mayor’s previous comments about not discussing factual errors in the report -- due to a pending lawsuit filed by Thevenin’s family. He said after he's sworn in the department will review the report's recommendations, which included having body and dash cameras for officers; reconsidering the department’s orders for dealing with suspects in moving vehicles; and how officer-involved shootings are handled.

“I want people to feel safe, to trust the police and to feel safe in their neighborhoods,” Owens said.

Owens and his team of assistant chiefs will have to do this while a former police union president faces a grand larceny charge; an August 2017 police-involved non-fatal shooting is under investigation; and the leader and a former member of the city drug unit head to trial.

Councilman Mark McGrath, a Republican representing North Central, the city’s poorest neighborhood, said the city should consider hiring a public safety commissioner with the ability to handle discipline to oversee the department.

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing to consider. It’s unfortunate that were being portrayed as a rogue department,” McGrath said, further noting the force has had to deal with internal politics.

Madden, a Democrat, doesn’t embrace the idea of finding someone from outside overseeing the department. The city charter also says any police chief must be hired off the city civil service list.

“I don’t see an overwhelming need to do that. I would like to see what we can do with the leadership we have now,” Madden said.

Republican City Council President Carmella Mantello said the city must give the new police chief the tools and support he needs to modernize the department.

“Brian Owens’ promotion at this particular moment in the history of the Troy Police Department could not have come at a more critical time,” said Anthony Magnetto, a retired police commissioner and assistant chief. Magnetto said the three new chiefs have “the two most essential qualities of a great leader – competence and character.”

The promotions of Owens, DeWolf and Kehn has been anticipated by the department’s officers. Privately, many have supported their assuming leadership of the department.

“Each one of these men are well respected in the department and the members of the PBA are excited for the change. I am looking forward to working with all three on several tasks at hand, including the possibility of outfitting officers with body cameras in the near future,” said Officer Nick Laviano, president of the Troy Police Benevolent Association.

Retired Deputy Chief Richard “Buddy” McAvoy said, “Each one of them has stepped up to accept challenges. They have the confidence of the people that worked for them over the years.”

Democratic Councilman David Bissember, who chairs the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, said the department’s new leadership work on the recommendations made in the Attorney General’s report; embrace community policing; and reach out to the public.

A date for promotional ceremony has not yet been set. The promotion of Owens and DeWolf will take place first with Kehn’s promotion occurring when Acting Chief George VanBramer retires at the end of March from his assistant chief’s post.

The budgeted amount for the police chief's salary for 2018 is $113,651 and for assistant police chief it is $101,076.