Hello & goodbye: LPD welcomes new officers as veterans retire

March 29-- Mar. 29--Lockport Police Department has welcomed two new officers to the patrol ranks, while preparing to say goodbye to a pair of veteran officers.

In a special ceremony Thursday evening, Mayor Michelle Roman swore in Jesse Williams, 25, as the newest addition to LPD.

Williams comes to Lockport from Middleport Police Department, where he worked for a year. He grew up in the Wrights Corners area, joined Wrights Corners Volunteer Fire Company and graduated from Buffalo State College in 2015, with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Williams said he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement because he likes "the idea of helping people." He added that he's excited to join LPD, joking, "it's going to be a lot more busy than out in Middleport."

Williams was hired to fill the vacancy created recently with the promotion of Laura Schuler to the rank of lieutenant. She was promoted to fill the spot left by the retirement of Rodney Peters last month.

Because Williams is already a police officer, he will only have to undergo abbreviated field training, for four to six weeks, before he's fully ready to be on patrol, according to Capt. Douglas Haak.

LPD is also welcoming David Balduf, 28, to its ranks, as department veteran Detective Eric Harrington, who has served since 1995, prepares to retire. Balduf is enrolled in police academy; his hiring ensures the department has 48 officers, per contractual requirements.

A detective to succeed Harrington won't be named until Balduf graduates.

Another veteran officer, Adam Piedmont, was promoted to the rank of detective to fill a vacancy in the division that resulted from Chief Steven Preisch assigning an officer to the Niagara County Drug Task Force.

Piedmont, who has been with LPD for 14 years, said the promotion feels good. His first day as a detective was Thursday.

"I'm fortunate to have the opportunity and I'm plan on making the most of it," he said.

Also concerning LPD staffing, 27-year officer Paul Zapp plans to retire this month. According to Preisch, another officer who's currently on military leave will return and fill Zapp's spot.

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