The City of Binghamton has a new police chief, Joseph Zikuski.

Zikuski has temporarily led the department 3 times after past chiefs resigned or retired.

As Action News reporter Gabe Osterhout tells us, this time the job is his.

Joseph Zikuski served as the interim police chief since March, when Steven Tronovitch retired.

Today, Binghamton's Mayor removed the interim tag.

Zikuski is now Chief of Police.

"I would really like to thank everyone for the opportunity. The citizens, to serve the city of Binghamton. It's a privilege, something I've wanted to do for a long time," says Zikuski.

Zikuski has moved up the ranks in the Binghamton police department since joining in 1979.

Mayor Matt Ryan says that experience made Zikuski stand out over 2 other candidates.

"I think we're making great strides in the drug activity that is in the city. I remember the days when I was sargent, they were standing on the corner with 100 vials in their pockets when I was sargent. And we don't have that anymore but we can't let up because if we do, it's going to cost us dearly," Zikuski says.

This is the second Binghamton police chief appointed by Mayor Ryan.

"This time, I went with personal interviews. We had a round of personal interviews . We asked each candidate to submit their plans for the police department before we did personal interviews. Then we had one final interview," says Ryan.

As an assistant chief, Zikuski helped develop the Community Response Team, or CRT.

It's helped the department forge a better relationship with residents.

Zikuski plans to continue on that path, sitting down with people and business owners to see what more can be done to make Binghamton an even safer city.

In Binghamton, Gabe Osterhout, WBNG-TV Action News.

Two other candidates, up for the job, got promotions.

Both Captains David Eggleston and William Yeager were promoted to assistant chief.

Lieutenant John Chapman has been promoted to captain.