OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Fredonia Chief of Police Bradley Meyers

Fredonia’s longtime police chief, Bradley Meyers, is resigning.

At Monday’s meeting, the village Board of Trustees accepted the resignation letter of Meyers, effective Jan. 3. He is retiring from full-time work, but has accepted a position as a part-time investigator for the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

“My time with the village of Fredonia was an amazing time in my life,” Meyers, the chief since 1998, said after the meeting. “I will truly miss it.”

When Mayor Frank Pagano spoke at a reception for new chief Meyers back in 1998, the OBSERVER quoted him as saying, “We couldn’t think of a better person to head our police force. Everyone has been very positive in their response to his appointment.”

More than two decades later, Fredonia’s current mayor, Athanasia Landis, expressed similar warm sentiments.

“We worked well together over four years,” Landis said to Meyers at Monday’s meeting. “I know we were very lucky to have you.” Village trustees also expressed gratitude to Meyers for his work with the village, and congratulations and well-wishes for his next endeavor at the DA’s office.

Meyers, who said he has worked as a police officer for 34 years, was a village police officer and then a Jamestown police sergeant prior to taking his position as Fredonia’s police chief.

Now, he is “easing my way out of law enforcement,” he said. “I feel excited to be moving over there (to the DA’s office) … and I’m truly grateful.” His start date at his new position will be sometime in January and depends on when his new supervisors can do an orientation with him.

It remains unclear when, or how, Fredonia will replace Meyers.

“I called the civil service today and they sent us a list of requirements the new chief needs to have,” Landis said. “In the meantime, we need an interim. My suggestion is to appoint the next person in the chain of command.”

That would be Sgt. David Prince. However, no action was taken Monday, as Landis promised to have further discussions with trustees about the interim appointment.

Trustee and Mayor-Elect Douglas Essek asked if there was a civil service list for police chiefs. Landis said there is not. The village will have to post a civil service test for the job, then make a list of potential applicants from the test takers, she said.