NEW BERLIN – In December, the New Berlin Town Board dismissed its police chief over allegations of assault and now say they won’t be refilling the position.

New Berlin Town Supervisor Ross P. Iannello said the board had decided to no longer maintain the position of police chief, but would instead elect to appoint an officer in charge.

“We eliminated the position. There will be no more police chief. Someone will be in charge, but not a police chief,” said Iannello.

The board dismissed Police Chief Richard P. Kellar following a unanimous vote in executive session Dec. 8.

Kellar had been placed on paid suspended leave following his arrest by Chenango County Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 31 in South New Berlin. Kellar was charged with third degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

The board’s decision comes just after Kellar appeared in Town of Norwich Court Dec. 4 to answer to charges that he allegedly assaulted a New Berlin man while he was off duty, breaking two of the victim’s arms in the process.