One of the valley's longest-serving chiefs of police, Murray's Pete Fondaco, has parted ways with Murray City after newly appointed Mayor Ted Eyre decided he wanted to go in a different direction.
Mayor Ted Eyre says there were no specific problems with Fondaco's
administration; it was simply that he wanted a new face to lead the
department. Fondaco had served Murray for "35 wonderful years," but Eyre
had made an executive decision because he wanted to see a personnel
change, "a new look." The chief of police is an "at will" position.
Removing Fondaco will offer the opportunity for upward movement in the Murray Police Department, where Fondaco has been chief for 12 years. "Some other people will benefit from that experience," Eyre says.
Fondaco's last day as chief will be Feb. 28. From then, current assistant chief Craig Burnett will take the reins while Murray conducts a search for Fondaco's replacement. Eyre anticipates that there "are really qualified people internally," so for now, at least, an external search is not on the cards.
Fondaco hails from New Jersey—he moved to Utah in 1970 and joined Murray PD in 1978. He was appointed chief in 2002.
Calls seeking comment from Fondaco were directed to the mayor's office.