Village promotes Melchiorre as Monroe police chief

MONROE — The Monroe Village Board has promoted Lt. Alex Melchiorre to the position of chief of police.

Melchiorre, who has been a member of the Monroe Police Department for 37 years, replaces longtime chief Dominic Giudice, who recently retired.

Melchiorre joined the department when he was 21. He worked his way up the ranks from police officer, detective, sergeant, administrative sergeant, lieutenant and now to chief.

The new chief described the 16-person department as highly trained, motivated and professional officers.

“We are going to be proactive in addressing the issues in the Monroe community,” Melchiorre said in an interview this week. “We are looking to be community friendly and plan to work closely with the business owners and residents of the village.”

Quality of life issues
Melchiorre said Monroe Police will target quality of life issues. There are many vacant and abandoned storefronts throughout the village which pose a safety threat, especially in the nighttime hours.

The chief said he plans on meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Village Board in an effort to enhance the downtown area.

“We plan to make this area one of the safest communities,” he said, “and also intend to working with school officials and child safety issues.”

Although the Melchiorre said that he did not anticipate making any major changes in the way the department will be run, he noted the area has changed.

“The population has grown substantially and we have become culturally diverse,” he said. “The village’s infrastructure has remained the same size but traffic has increased.”

The new chief is a resident of the Village of Monroe. An official, public swearing-in ceremony will be held later this month.

Meanwhile, the chief said his mission is to be there for the public.

“I am aggressive, full of energy, a hands-on person,” Melchiorre said, “and will be in the middle of everything.”

By Claudia Wysocki