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ALBANY---The former first deputy superintendent of the New York State Police has been named to head the 5,000 member law enforcement agency.
Preston L. Felton who retired last week, is the interim superintendent of the State Police, replacing Supt. Wayne Bennett.
This appointment will temporarily fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Wayne Bennett as Superintendent of the State Police. A national search will be conducted to fill the vacancy during the interim period, after which a nominee will be named. Spitzer could decide to make Felton's appointment permanent, according to Spitzer spokesman Paul Larrabee.
Bennett has retired after 38 years of service.
Felton, 48, has been a member of the State Police for 26 years and is the highest ranking African-American in State Police history. In November of 2003, he was appointed to the position of first deputy superintendent and served as second-in-command of the Division of State Police. Prior to his assignment as first deputy, he served as the lieutenant colonel and assistant deputy superintendent in charge of the Human Resources Section of the State Police. Prior to that assignment he served as the major-troop commander in charge of the New York State Police's Troop covering New York City, Troop NYC. In addition, he oversaw State Police personnel assigned to several federal enforcement units including the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force, United States Secret Service Electronics Crimes Task Force, and the U. S. Customs Service El Dorado Task Force.
Felton has spent the bulk of his career in field assignments. He served as a captain in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation with the Executive Services Detail from 1997 to 2000. He has also served as a Lieutenant in the Uniform Force in Troop K, a lieutenant in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and a lieutenant at the Division Headquarters Internal Affairs Section.
Felton received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Marist College in 1984 and his Master of Public Administration Degree from Marist College in 1998. He is also a graduate of the 177th Session of the FBI National Academy.
This appointment will temporarily fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Wayne Bennett as Superintendent of the State Police. A national search will be conducted to fill the vacancy during the interim period, after which a nominee will be named.
His salary will be $136,000. 2-23-07
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© 2007 North
Country Gazette
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