The Albany Police Department recently announced the promotion of Mark Bell to Police Chief after former Chief Chris Neal resigned due to health reasons.

Bell, a 22 year veteran of the Albany Police Department, is excited for the new opportunity, but expects to be treated as he has been over the years.

“I was appointed sergeant in 2012, and I’ve been on patrol. I plan on continuing doing the same thing. I’m not about sitting here in the office. I’m going to be more hands on in the community. I’ll do anything the other officers will do. I don’t expect them to do any thing I wouldn’t do,” Bell said. “To be fair and equal, I plan on being out here on patrol and working any different shifts. I may be chief, but that don’t mean I’m going to be working all day shifts.”

Bells’ main focus, he said, is to establish a good working relationship with other agencies and the community.

“If you have good communication with the community it goes a lot better,” Bell said. “Dispatch is our life line. We all depend on the ambulance service and the fire department. When we are working a wreck they are there helping us do traffic control, and vice-versa. We will do traffic control for them on house fires or anything else. Of course, it’s always good to have a good working relationship with the sheriff’s department and the state police.”

One of many problems in Clinton County is the drug problem that has hit so many families.

“We are like the sheriff’s department or any other agency, we are understaffed,” Bell said. “It makes it hard sometimes where there is only one officer out here working. It’s hard to be in every place at one time.”

The Albany Police Department employees only six officers at the moment.

“Trying to get some of the other officer’s in-service time in, as well as vacation time, we usually end up with around four officers on duty,” Bell said.

According to Bell, the chief is responsible for all the other officers, anything that takes place, city council meetings, public relations, and a number of other things.

“I have to keep up with all the maintenance of the vehicles, officer’s in-service training, which is around 40 hours in continued education for every officer every year,” Bell said. “I’ve been appointed into this position, but the one good thing I have is good officers. I’ve been blessed with good officers to work with.”

Bell said even after 22 years on the job he still enjoys it.

“I enjoy dealing with the public,” Bell said. “A lot of times just talking to people helps a whole lot.”

Bell did say he has heard the city might be hiring an assistant police chief to help out with all the duties.

“I’m sure within the next week there will be one appointed,” Bell said.