Salada named new Lewiston police chief

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, July 21, 2007

Newly appointed Lewiston Police Chief Christopher Salada is sworn in by Lewiston Town Supervisor Fred Newlin as Salada’s wife, Amy, and daughter, Mari, look on. Not shown was his stepson, Kyle Nablo, who was picture shy for the event. (photo by Officer Anthony P. Nicoletti)

The town and village of Lewiston this week announced the appointment of Lewiston Police Officer Christopher Salada as the new chief of police. Salada, a 17-year veteran of the department, succeeds Ronald Winkley, who retired as chief on June 29.

Town Supervisor Fred Newlin reports that Salada was unanimously selected for the position by both the Lewiston Town Board and the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees following a long interview process. Salada, who also serves as chief of police for the Youngstown Police Department, was considered for the LPD’s top post along with veteran Lewiston officers, Sgt. Frank Previte III and Officer John A. Penzotti.

Excellent Candidates

“We had three excellent candidates for police chief,” said Newlin, “each with their unique assets and qualifications. It was an extremely difficult decision for both boards to make, but we have a lot of confidence in Chris and believe he will do an excellent job in running our department.”

Village Mayor Richard Soluri agreed. “We were very fortunate to have three excellent candidates. We’re also fortunate to have such a good department to begin with – thanks to the excellent efforts of a very good police chief in Ron Winkley.”

Soluri pointed to the smooth transition of consolidation of the village and town police departments back in the 1990s as just one example of Winkley’s impact over the years.

“We were likewise very impressed with Chris,” Soluri said. “He is a well rounded individual with 17 years of experience in law enforcement and as serving as chief of our sister department up in Youngstown.”

And Soluri spoke highly of the other candidates vying for the post. “We were very impressed with the other candidates. They’re exceptional officers and we’re pleased to have them as members of the Lewiston Police.”

Salada Humbled on News

Salada said he felt humbled on hearing the news. “Simply being considered for this position was overwhelming,” Salada said. “I appreciate their confidence in me to take over and represent the department as their police chief.”

He added he is very appreciative of his working with Winkley over the years. “Ron hired me in the village 17 years ago,” Salada said. “Obviously, I have some big shoes to fill. But in those 17 years, I’ve picked up a lot of traits from Ron … his friendliness, his ability to work with the community. Everybody loved him.”

Looking ahead, Salada said he wants to grow and enhance the department’s relationship with the community, its businesses, its residents. “I want this community to become very familiar, very comfortable with their department, to the point that if someone has a problem that’s borderline police-worthy in their mind, where they normally wouldn’t call the police because they don’t know who they are going to talk to, that they can. I want them to be comfortable enough with us that they can call us. I want the residents to be comfortable enough with us to say that this is their department.”

Positive Focus

One area Salada would like to focus on is walking patrols. “It’s a very good way to get the public and the police department familiar with each other,” he said.

Salada said that, if doable, with three officers on a shift, for example, he’d like to assign one of them to foot patrols – whether it be in the village, up the hill in Sanborn, at Niagara University, in the town’s growing subdivisions, or in the parks. “I want to get everyone to know each other,” he said.

Salada pointed out that as Youngstown police chief he has held casual “meet and greets” where village residents could touch base with their officers in a friendly setting. “I’d like to have a casual event where residents can come and meet the police, but not under police circumstances.”

On the topic of consolidation with the Youngstown PD, Salada said he’s open to discussion on the issue, if the public wants it. “If it keeps police on the road, if it saves the community money, I’m all for it.” Salada added he felt both departments function exceptionally well in the northern county area and said both the Niagara County Sheriffs and New York State Police have working relationships in the community that are “both excellent.”

As to his ambitions with working with Lewiston’s officers, Salada said his goal is to make a great department only better. “My goal is to make everybody in this department a key part of this department. I want to give everyone a specific job, relative to the department, to make everybody feel they have an important part in this department.

“The transition (within the department) has been going very well. I can’t show my appreciation enough for that,” he said.

“I just want the community to feel that this is their department,” said Salada in closing. “We want to keep this going forward.”