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Scrimizzi named Hamilton’s next police chief

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 8:31 PM Friday, February 10, 2012

HAMILTON — Lt. Scott Scrimizzi will be the next Hamilton police chief when Neal Ferdelman retires after a four-decade career on March 2.

Scrimizzi was the top scorer on the promotion test for chief. Two other police lieutenants, Marc McManus and Dan Pratt, and the two deputy fire chiefs took the written promotion test on Dec. 19.

The city follows state law and promotes the person who scores the highest on the test to the next rank.

“I’m excited about becoming the next chief,” Scrimizzi said.

Nadine Hill, director of civil service and personnel, said the lieutenants were eligible to take the chief’s test as police captains. Joseph Murray and Steve Poulemanos had announced their intentions to retire in 2012.

Ferdelman has been on vacation leave for the past few weeks and Murray has been serving as the acting chief. According to the city’s Civil Service and Personnel Office, the salary for the police and fire chief positions ranges between $85,946 and $110,136.

Scrimizzi is a graduate of Taft High School and earned an associate’s degree in police administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He also attended Miami University Hamilton for a semester.

In addition, he is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Leadership College.

Scrimizzi was appointed a police officer in March 1984. He was promoted to sergeant in November 1994 and promoted to lieutenant in March 1998. He was promoted to detective in March 1991.

He is currently the commander of the Investigations Division and oversees the detectives, vice unit, SWAT, internal affairs and is also the city’s Homeland Security liaison.

The eligibility list for police sergeant has Detective David Collins at the top of the list and will be eligible for promotion to sergeant when the next vacancy opens.

Fire Chief Joseph Schutte has also announced plans to retire later this year but has not set a date as of yet. When he does, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawson will be in line for chief.

Deputy Fire Chief Curt New also took the promotion test for fire chief in December.

Hill said that only deputy fire chiefs were eligible to take the test for fire chief.

Dawson has been with the fire department since 1984 and was promoted to deputy fire chief in July 1999. New has served with the fire department since 1988 and was promoted to deputy fire chief in June 2008.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.

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