Paul Nelson is reporting for the Times Union Niskayuna town officials have placed Chief of Police Dan McManus on administrative leave as an investigation is conducted into allegations that he violated unspecified town policies. Officials offered no clear explanation for why he was removed from his post. Frances E. Wall, a 35-year police commander with the Niskayuna force has been chosen to serve as the department's new interim leader. The probe will be handled by the town's outside counsel, according to a statement from Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed. The statement on the leadership change indicates the alleged violations are not related to police brutality or excessive force, but indicated nothing more about the substance of the allegations. Wall’s rise to the department's top spot has not been without challenges. In 2009, Wall, a police sergeant at the time, sued then police chief Lewis Moskowitz alleging gender bias in federal court. She accused Moskowitz of passing her over several times on promotions to lieutenant while less qualified male colleagues were promoted. A federal jury ultimately rejected her claims. Wall was promoted to lieutenant in April 2020. She is a 1979 graduate of Niskayuna High School and was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the Marine Corps in 1985. Read the full story in the Times Union.