Chuck Dobson, left, takes his pledge as Lake Placid’s new police chief while village Mayor Art Devlin swears him in. (Enterprise photo — Lauren Yates)

LAKE PLACID — Chuck Dobson is Lake Placid’s new police chief.

Dobson, the former assistant police chief, was sworn in as chief of the Lake Placid Police Department on Wednesday during a special meeting called by the village board of trustees for that purpose. The vote for his appointment was unanimous.

Dobson stepped up as the department’s acting police chief after longtime former police chief William Moore retired on Jan. 27.

Dobson and one other candidate applied for the chief position during the village board’s search for Moore’s replacement. Mayor Art Devlin said the other candidate never followed up with the board for an interview. Devlin said the village formed an interview committee for the position, composed of Moore, village Trustee Jackie Kelly and village Trustee Marc Galvin, and he said the committee showed “overwhelming” support for Dobson as chief after his interview. Devlin added that hang-ups with the state Department of Civil Service delayed his swearing-in. Dobson will have a salary of $92,000.

A small crowd of people attended Dobson’s swearing-in ceremony in the North Elba Town Hall on Wednesday, including friends, family, and former police chiefs Moore and Scott Monroe. After he was named police chief, Dobson thanked Moore for his service.

“I certainly have some big shoes to fill,” he said. “But I’m sure if I need some advice I can find you on the golf course or in a tree stand.”

Dobson also thanked the village board for appointing him, the Lake Placid community for its support and members of the LPPD for their service.

“I look forward to working with our residents, businesses and other Lake Placid community stakeholders to keep our village a wonderful and safe place to visit and work,” he said.

Dobson started his policing career with the Saranac Lake Police Department in 2004. He transferred to the LPPD in 2007, and he quickly rose through the ranks. He was a sergeant by 2009, and in 2015 he landed the assistant police chief position, which he’s held since then. Dobson said he did some work as an emergency medical technician and a fire department driver in the past, and he became an officer when he was 24.

Dobson expects a smooth transition into his role as chief. He said Moore helped to prepare him during their time together, and he’s dealt with some chief duties as an assistant. He said he’s looking forward to stepping into the work.

“I’m honored that the mayor and the village board are putting their faith in me to be the next chief, and I’m ready to get to work,” he said.

Dobson is married and lives in Ray Brook. He’s been a volunteer with the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department for more than 20 years. He said he likes to golf in the summertime and bowl in the wintertime.