Steven Haynes, Deputy Chief of APD’s uniform division, informed Younger Thursday in a letter obtained by The Albany Herald that he’d been offered a position in New York “that is beneficial to me and my family” and that he was resigning, effective Dec. 31.
“The Albany Police Department should be proud of how much we do with so little,” Haynes, 47, wrote.
Haynes, who was hired by APD Jan. 12, had retired with the rank of Deputy Inspector from NYPD, where he was the commanding officer of NYPD’s 105th precinct, in Queens, according to his APD personnel file, recently inspected by The Albany Herald.
Haynes’ resignation takes effect the same day as Younger’s. Albany City Manager Al Lott has said that if a search process fails to replace APD’s chief by Jan. 1, he’ll name someone to lead in the interim, and planned to speak with the department’s three deputy chiefs — Haynes, Spencer Rozier and Wilma Griffin.
All three participated in a Monday swearing-in and promotion ceremony in Albany, with Rozier, Deputy Chief of Support Services, welcoming the department’s newest recruits back from police academy in Tifton.
“You really can’t breathe easy until you’ve taken that last examination,” said Rozier, who recently completed the academy himself.
Contrary to previous reports, Rozier, also a new addition to the force, recently became a certified Georgia peace officer.
Rozier received his certification from Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, Council, Oct. 7, according to POST Director of Operations Ryan Powell.
Rozier, 44, came to APD Feb. 11 from Palm Beach, Fla., Police Department, where he’d worked since 1987 and held the rank of captain, according to his APD personnel file.
Long-time certified Albany officer Wilma Griffin serves as APD’s Deputy Chief of Investigations.
Haynes had completed all POST requirements except for the academy, Powell said.
