Palmyra Village Police Chief Kyle DiNardo began his job in 2022, and it came to an unsavory end on Wednesday (8/26) evening with a resignation letter given to Palmyra Village Mayor Rick Perry.
"Effective today, Chief Kyle DiNardo has resigned from the Palmyra Police Department. I want to thank him for his service to this community. Senior Officer Tim Bryant has been appointed Officer in Charge and will lead the department moving forward. I have full confidence in Tim’s ability to lead our officers with professionalism and integrity. Our newly formed Police Commission Board will play a key role in this transition, and my priority remains a department this community can trust"
DiNardo, a Macedon resident was a school resource officer for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office before taking on the role of Palmyra Police Chief. Prior to that he held jobs in the Village of Interlaken Police, Village of Dryden Police, Cazenovia Police, Cortland County Fire Investigator Office and EMT (Emergency Medical Technician for the Homer Fire Department.
Despite his trainings and credentials, he got off on the wrong foot after getting a $10,000 payment from the Wayne County Fair Board for supplying security for the 2025 County Fair, hiring friends and other officers. "We didn’t know where the money was going or why the Fair paid out for something Palmyra Police and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office were already providing for free,"said one Palmyra official not wishing to be identified.
Over the past year confrontations arose after DiNardo hired police friends, one of whom has since been fired.
Questions arose after the Times of Wayne County complained about lacking police reports and arrests. A meeting with Mayor Perry, DiNardo and the Times newspaper ended with promises and few results.
The Palmyra Village Board, along with Perry, saw little progress in suggestions for improvement made to the Palmyra Chief’s conduct and procedures. That eventually led to the formation of a three panel Police Commission Board comprised of retired Palmyra Police Officer David Freeland, retired Palmyra Police Chief David Dalton and former Palmyra Mayor David Husk. Ironically it was Husk, who, after a search, announced DiNardo’s appointment as a "perfect match" for the job.
Current Mayor Rick Perry stated he could not speak further on details behind the resignation, or issues on why DiNardo left, due to advice of the Village Board attorney and release of personnel matters.
He added that from now on there would be a more open dialogue between the Village, Police Department and the Media.
The Times has learned that DiNardo approached Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby about a chance to return to the sheriff’s department full time. He currently works for the County in a part-time deputy status with permission from the Village of Palmyra. Milby requested Dinardo get a letter outlining the reasons for the pressure for him to resign. The letter never came.
Milby also stated that another former sheriff’s officer, currently with the Palmyra Village Police, has requested reinstatement.
"I’m not touching this right now. I am not hiring anyone without a proper background check. Right now, nobody from Palmyra is coming back" said the Sheriff.
DiNardo has not responded to calls for an interview.
