Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Chatham Village Board demoted Deputy Police Chief Joseph Alessi, then promoted him, at a Feb. 11 meeting. Alessi was a lieutenant in the part-time village police force, but demoted to sergeant. That was just to get around a civil service law, so he could be named deputy chief. That is a provisional appointment depending on passing a civil service exam for the job. The Chatham board also bought a new police car for $26,276, and an in-vehicle dashboard camera for $2,930 and three new computers for the police station for $2,487.72. John Howe’s also submitted a letter of resignation as first assistant chief of the village Fire Department. Howe is running for mayor in the March village elections. The board made current Second Assistant Chief Eric Barnes to first assistant, leaving open the second assistant chief post. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.