Two local police departments have new top cops leading the force.
The Cheektowaga Town Board approved the appointment of a new police chief at its Tuesday night meeting.
Assistant Chief of Police Michael Sliwinski will take over as chief on Feb. 4. Sliwinski will succeed David Zack, who recently announced his retirement. Zack is relocating to Asheville, NC, where he will become that community's new police chief.
The town board approved a salary of $137,920 for Sliwinski, who has been on the Cheektowaga Police force since August 1991 and has served as assistant chief since October 2018.
The board also appointed police Capt. Brian Gould as the new assistant chief, at a salary of $126,231 per year.
A new chief is also on the job in Hamburg. Kevin Trask takes over for Gregory Wickett, who retired after five years in the position.
Like Sliwinski, Trask is an internal hire. He began at the department 20 years ago, starting as a patrol officer, then a detective. Trask was approved by the Town Board last week.
On Jan. 1, Acting Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti assumed command of the department after serving as undersheriff since 2012 to former Sheriff James Voutour, who retired in 2019.
