Lloyd Perkins, chief of the village of Skaneateles Police Department, has been sworn in as the president of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the state's more than 500 police chiefs and other law enforcement officials.

“We're very proud of Lloyd and very proud of our whole department,” said Village Mayor Robert Green, who Perkins selected to administer the oath of office at the association's annual conference in Alexandria Bay. “It's obviously quite an honor for Lloyd.”

Perkins has been head of the Skaneateles department since 2005. Prior to that, he served 35 years with the town of Camillus Police Department, where he was chief for a decade.

Perkins was the Zone 7 representative for the association's board of governors from 1996 to 1998. He later served consecutive one-year stints as the third, second and first vice presidents of the association.

“The main part of my platform is to provide training for officers to try to cut down on the number of officers getting killed,” Perkins said, noting that he also plans to lobby for legislation to increase the penalties for assaults against police officers.

Additionally, Perkins would like to focus on underage drinking. John Harzinski, his first vice president and the chief of the Gloversville Police Department, is his “point guy” for implementing programs to target such behavior.

Harzinksi said that the association is still in the process of developing its plans but that it hopes to expand Parents Who Host Lose the Most, a program that uses law enforcement, media, faith-based organizations and others to try to make parents aware of the dangers that alcohol poses to those underage.

Some parents think it's all right to allow their children and their friends to drink in their home, justifying that decision by reasoning that they're going to do it anyway, Harzinski said.

“It's not OK. Science tells that to us now,” Harzinski continued, noting the brain damage and fatalities that can occur.

Under Perkins' tenure, the association will also develop a plan to push for the adoption of a statewide social host law, where adults could be arrested if underage drinking occurs on their property and they know about and don't take measures to stop it, Harzinski said.

Harzinski said that he is confident in Perkins' abilities. He called Perkins “proactive” and commended him for leading the Skaneateles Police Department toward accreditation.

“He's very well-versed on issues regarding law enforcement, both its members and how law enforcement affects the populous,” Harzinski said.