Chester's police chief to retire after 10 years - Brian Jarvis plans move to Florida, take on more teaching
Chester Brian Jarvis will step down from his position as chief of police effective Sept. 15. Jarvis announced his retirement on Tuesday night at the Chester Town Board meeting, which he attended because the board had some police business on its agenda. He has served as chief in the Town of Chester for 10 years. He has been in police work for a total 30 years. Before Chester, he worked for 10 years in a department in the state of Florida, where he hopes to move after selling his house in Montgomery. He looks forward to living near his parents, who also live in the state. Jarvis is a native of Newburgh. He said he loves teaching law enforcement seminars and other classes, and hopes to do more of that in his retirement. Officer promoted to full time In related business, police officer Mark Miller was promoted from part-time to full-time. He has served with the town force for two years. “Mark has done a great job for us,” said Chief Jarvis. “He’s just the kind of person we’d like to have full time.” Jarvis recommended a short probation period because Miller had already served probation when hired as a part-timer. “I appreciate your vote and confidence in me,” Miller told the board. The town board also created two vacancies for patrol positions on the police force. Town Supervisor Steve Neuhaus said the town does not intend to fill the vacancies but wanted to have the option to hire extra officers in case a merger with the village police department falls through. The town and village have been studying the feasibility of consolidating their forces to save money. But merger seems less likely now unless it happens in the next couple of months, Neuhaus said. The new chief will have to serve a probationary period, he noted. Neuhaus said he sent a letter to the village notifying them of the development. Eagle Crest on Aug. 26 agenda The town board put off its planned discussion of the proposed Eagle Crest subdivision until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at town hall, 1786 Kings Highway. Supervisor Neuhaus said he wanted the town attorney, who is now on vacation, to be present at the discussion. The developer’s plan is to put 26 houses on 90 acres at the Lewis Farm on Hambletonian Road part of the farm where Hambletonian, perhaps the most famous standardbred trotting horse of all time, was born in 1849. Last week, the planning board agreed that Eagle Crest is suitable for a cluster development an arrangement by which developers are allowed to build more houses in exchange for leaving part of the site open space. The planning board will make its recommendation to the town board. The site is located in the town’s Ridge Overlay District and also includes an historic barn.