By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- The Village of Potsdam will not rush to appoint a new permanent police chief, according to the mayor.

Former Police Chief Kevin Bates announced in mid-August he would retire at the end of the month, and the board appointed Lt. Mark Murray to be temporary chief until a permanent appointment is made.

His appointment is for six months.

“We’re hoping to have someone in place no later than April,” said Mayor Ron Tischler. That is when the temporary position ends, according to the resolution appointing Murray as temporary chief, Sgt. Mike Ames as temporary lieutenant, and Patrol Officer Clint Perrigo as temporary sergeant of the department.

Those appointments could become permanent if the mayor and the board approve them, Tischler said.

If not, they will each revert to their previous positions -- Murray as lieutenant, Ames as sergeant and Perrigo as patrol officer.

To be a candidate for the police chief job in Potsdam, one must have passed the chief’s Civil Service test.

Murray and Ames have both passed the required Civil Service chief’s test and would be on the list compiled by the St. Lawrence County Human Resources and Civil Service Administration, and both have been interviewed for the chief’s job, according to Mayor Tischler.

Generally, the top three on the Civil Service list prepared by the county’s Human Resources Department would be interviewed for a chief’s job, according to Everett Basford, village administrator.

Human Resources Department Director Paul Smith said that is part of the “Rule of Three” for Civil Service appointments.

But he said Potsdam has not yet requested the list of candidates from his office.

“We would send a certified list of the top three. They can appoint someone from the top three candidates who are interested,” Smith said.

“So far it’s just those two” – Murray and Ames – who have said they are interested in the job, Tischler said.