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Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford is retiring today after leading the department since 2016 and serving for nearly 24 years. A walk-out ceremony will mark Clifford’s final day at police headquarters, as reported by the Daily Gazette.
Mayor Gary McCarthy has chosen Assistant Chief Brian Whipple as Clifford’s replacement. Whipple has been with the Schenectady Police Department since 2009 and was promoted to assistant chief in 2021. He currently oversees the Administrative Services Bureau, which manages budgets, risk, technology, and department policies. According to the Times Union, Whipple holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena College and a master’s in public safety from the University of Virginia, and he is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Whipple was the only candidate to sign up for the civil service process to become chief, so no exam was held. Mayor McCarthy said Whipple will officially become chief once certified by the Schenectady County Civil Service Commission, which is expected soon. Clifford recommended that his successor come from inside the department, stating, "With 17 years of service to this department, he knows this organization and our community well, and I have complete confidence that he will lead the department with a continued focus on innovation, professionalism, and the trust we have built in the community," according to the Daily Gazette.
The retirement ceremony for Clifford is set for Friday afternoon, and Whipple is expected to be sworn in formally in the coming weeks, as News10 ABC reports. The transition is not expected to affect police services in Schenectady, according to the mayor.