As it came time to graduate from New Hartford High School and find a career, Dan English decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
His father was a part-time captain with the New Hartford Police Department. English, who spent his high school years working on neighboring farms, joined the New Hartford department Sept. 20, 1978 as a part-time officer.
Forty-one years and three days later, English will retire as chief of the Kirkland Police Department. He announced his retirement at last week’s Kirkland Town Board meeting.
English graduated from the police academy in 1979, the same year he took a part-time job with the then-Clinton Police Department. When a full-time position opened in Ilion, he went there, then to Sherrill.
English started with the Kirkland department Oct. 5, 1981 as its only full-time officer. The last 24 years English has served as chief of police.
Kirkland remains one of 13 police departments in Oneida County with five full-time officers and nine part-time officers.
English, who turned 61 last week, said he had planned to retire in June 2020. But an opportunity came up to work with…