BEACON POLICE CHIEF AND CAPTAIN TO RETIRE AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE
Beacon, NY:After more than three decades of service each, Police Chief Kevin Junjulas and Police Captain Gary Fredericks are retiring from the Beacon Police Department as of July 7, 2020. Both have indicated their willingness to assist in the City in the transition process.
Junjulas and Fredericks were appointed Police Chief and Captain respectively in 2018, with the unexpected departure of the prior chief. Both were eligible for retirement at that time, and have been contemplating retirement for some time. Both have 31 years of service, more than two dozen of which were with the City of Beacon, rising through the department ranks together.
Chief Junjulas, who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and police science, said, “It has been a privilege to serve the City of Beacon over the last 25 years and to lead the men and women of the Beacon Police Department. It has been an honor to serve this great community, and stand ready to assist in the transition.”
Captain Fredericks added, “I am grateful and honored to have served the residents of the City of Beacon over the last 26 years. I have great respect for the men and women of the Beacon Police Department, and full confidence that they will continue to serve the City to the highest standards.”
Mayor Lee Kyriacou said, “I want to thank Chief Junjulas and Captain Fredericks for their decades of service and leadership for the city, and their willingness to afford me some initial time in office before retiring. I appreciate their guiding the department toward increased professionalization. Their calming and dedicated approach will be missed, and I wish them both well in their future endeavors.”
The Mayor continued: “I note, that as a City Council member from 2002-07, I was at first alone calling for control of police chief, actions and budget. Eventually the unanimous Council brought U.S. Justice Department oversight of the police, demoted the then chief, settled multiple lawsuits, and helped professionalize the department. The Justice Department ended its oversight four years ago. While the department has reformed substantially, the ongoing national tragedy points out there is more to do, even locally, and we will look carefully again at multiple issues.”
The City will initiate a recruitment process immediately to begin a search for a new chief. The process is anticipated to take several months.