Cummings in as Southampton Village chief

Southampton Village trustees voted, by a 3-2 margin, in favor of promoting Capt. Thomas Cummings to the village's vacant police chief position after a late Thursday night executive session.

Cummings, 47, a longtime captain with the department, replaces former Chief William Wilson Jr., who left last month to take the police chief job with the Southampton Town Police Department. Wilson had been chief of the village department for about five years.

Cummings has filled in as commander of the department since Wilson's departure.

Cummings was chosen from a narrow field of three candidates -- himself, Det. Herman Lamison and Sgt. David Dorchak.

Mayor Mark Epley, Bonnie Cannon and Paul Robinson voted for Cummings' promotion, and trustees Nancy McGann and Richard Yastrzemski voted against.

"I feel promotions should be for people who work their way up," Robinson said. "I think the captain was doing an excellent job."

Cummings was sworn in Friday morning. His salary has not yet been finalized, said Village Administrator Stephen Funsch.

Cummings was one of six eligible candidates who interviewed for the job. Eligible candidates included sergeants with at least three years' experience and officers of a higher rank. The three finalists met with the town board over the past month.

Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner John Gallagher served as a consultant during the search.

Wilson, 46, was sworn in as Southampton Town chief on May 2, replacing previous chief Fred Overton, who retired April 16.