Yonkers, New York

 

Former Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles A. Cola

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On April 14, 2000 Detective Charles A. Cola was sworn in as Commissioner of Police for the Yonkers Police Department. This was a historical appointment, the first time a member who has not held a supervisor's rank was named to head the Department. But it is not as if Charles Cola has no experience as a leader. Since 1993, Commissioner Cola had been president of the Police Benevolent Association, representing most of the Department's members in contract negotiations and in many other matters. He was elected to this position, in part, because of his leadership qualities. He was re-elected to that office because his talent as a leader grew in his years as president. His abilities grew enough to convince Mayor John Spencer that Cola was the right man to succeed Commissioner Joseph Cassino, who retired on April 13. At the swearing in ceremony, Mayor Spencer lavished praise on the new Commissioner. He noted their long history together and expressed hope that their future working relationship would be beneficial to the Department and the City. The Mayor said he believed that the Yonkers Police Department was the finest in state, probably in the country. City Council President Vincenza Restiano went one better by saying it was the finest in the world! Though we can forgive a bit of exuberance in elected officials when it comes to the Department, the truth is that serious crime in the City of Yonkers is down over 43% in the last ten years, making Yonkers one of the safest cities in country. The Mayor is confident that this trend will continue under the leadership of his new Commissioner of Police, Charles A. Cola.
From The Commissioner
The following is the speech Commissioner Charles A. Cola delivered at his swearing in ceremony:
Mayor Spencer, Council President Restiano, members of the City Council, fellow police officers, and family, thank you for joining my wife Teresa and my son Charles IV on this great day for my family. Seven years ago while working as a Detective, I was approached by two young police officers who were concerned about the future of our union, they asked me to run for president. They did so not to obtain an easier job for themselves, in fact they are still assigned to the Third Precinct. They believed I could be the leader that could make our union strong once again. To those officers, I hope I did not disappoint you. When Mayor Spencer asked me to step up and be the leader of this great department I said yes without hesitation. Seven years as head of the P.B.A. has replaced self-doubt with confidence, apprehension with conviction. I have never been more confident about anything in my life, than in my decision to be Commissioner. Mayor Spencer, I know I will not disappoint you. I want to create an atmosphere where people are not afraid to voice their opinion or feel the need to hide behind anonymous letters. I accomplished this in the P.B.A. Granted, it led to four hour executive board meetings, but it resulted in a stronger union. I envision a department with up-to-date equipment, computers in every police car, modem comfortable uniforms, and units that work together for a common goal, to keep our citizens safe. I want to make the supervisors and police officers out on the street the stars of the department, where patrol is revered and not a place to escape from. I will be making decisions over the next several months that may anger some of you, but I believe the majority of the department will say "It's about time." My position over the last several years has given me the unique opportunity to work with everyone in the department in all types of situations, I know all of your strengths and weaknesses, I will capitalize on this and put the right people in the right positions and move this department forward. I am not afraid to make change and I pledge to you I will never say, "This is the way we are doing it, because we always do it that way." I call on Lt. Thomas Drexel and President Eddie Armour to join with me in partnership to make positive, progressive change. We are going to perform community policing, not as a buzzword, but as a philosophy, not signing ten officers, but committing all 616 members to the effort and maintaining the public trust in our department. I will lead the way by making myself available to the community, I will be a tireless spokesmen for this great police department. To our supervisors, I want you to be the leaders that our young officers look up to, lead by example, not by edict, command respect, don't demand it. To our patrol officers out in the street, always look and act like the, professional that you are. I will not tolerate rudeness and disrespect towards the public, there is no reason for it and it tarnishes what the majority of our officers strive for, creating a better and safer city for all of us. In closing, I cannot wait to get started, I am excited for the future of this department. Thank all of you for joining me and may God bless all of our officers and keep them safe.

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