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Colonie police chief credits data-driven work as board approves multiple promotions
Summary
The Town of Colonie approved a slate of police promotions while Police Chief Jerice told the board the town’s crime rate is at its lowest level in five years and cited reductions in motel-related harm calls after data-driven strategies and recent board measures.
Police Chief Jerice told the Town of Colonie board on Monday that the town’s crime rate is “at its absolute lowest levels in the last five years” and credited department personnel and legal and government partners for the decline.
The chief, addressing the board and a room of recruits and family members, said the department responded to more than 1,100 harm‑related calls at 10 motels in 2024 and that data‑driven strategies reduced that number to about 800 in 2025. “Those 300 people…that’s one less domestic‑violence victim a day,” he said, urging recognition of the board’s recent public‑safety measures directed at motel activity.
Why it matters: the comments accompanied a series of personnel actions that the board approved by voice vote. The session advanced internal capacity in the police department — the chief described promotions and investigator appointments as part of a broader strategy to sustain crime reductions and improve victim services.
The board adopted Resolution 213D to promote Evan T. Alexandrian to police sergeant and Resolution 213E to promote Casey M. Ogden to police sergeant. The supervisor administered the oath of office to newly promoted officers and the chief also announced investigator promotions for Eric Matiho, Ryan Burke, Ian Kelly and others. Multiple permanent police appointments (Resolutions 213F–213K) were carried by voice vote during the meeting.
Chief Jerice singled out town attorney Dave Brickner and other partners for drafting what the chief described as a constitutional legal measure intended to support public‑safety improvements. He also praised department efforts on wellness and peer support, and emphasized recruitment success: the hires brought the department temporarily “two above” authorized staffing in anticipation of upcoming retirements.
What was not decided: the board did not have extended debate or adopt new policy language at this meeting beyond the personnel resolutions. The chief’s crime and motel call figures were presented as department data; no independent report or staff memo updating long‑term crime trends was entered into the record during the meeting.
The board recessed briefly for recognition photos and the supervisor encouraged community support for the newly appointed officers; the meeting then continued with other agenda items.
