By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
The Town of Manlius Police Department has announced Michael J. Crowell as the new chief of their department, filling a position that was left open after former chief Francis Marlowe retired in February 2017.
Crowell took his oath of office on Oct. 16 after an extensive search by the Manlius Town Board and police committee. He began his career in law enforcement with the Village of East Syracuse in 1989, and transferred to the Manlius PD in 1995. In 2012 Crowell left to become chief of the Village of North Syracuse Police Department, a position which he was serving until his hiring as the Manlius police chief.
“It’s good to be home” Crowell said in a Facebook post by the Town of Manlius Police Department.
Manlius Town Supervisor Ed Theobald said during the selection process, the town board and police committee had the option to choose from a Civil Service list or to look for someone who was currently acting as a police chief, and they decided on the latter.
“When the interviewing was complete, it was determined by both that Michael Crowell was the most qualified with 28 years of experience in law enforcement,” said Theobald. “He also served 17 years with the Town of Manlius Police Department prior to him becoming the chief in North Syracuse, so his familiarity, experience and understanding the Town of Manlius was instrumental in the hiring him as the chief of police.”
During Crowell’s time in North Syracuse, the department became a New York state accredited agency for the first time. He also currently serves as the president of the Onondaga County Association of Chiefs of Police.
