Miles Burnett Calls for Open, Community-Driven Process to Select Binghamton’s Next Chief of Police

BINGHAMTON, NY --Miles Burnett, Binghamton mayoral candidate for the Democratic and Working Families Party, is calling for an open, community-driven process to choose the next Chief. In the coming days, Binghamton’s residents may be faced with the news that Chief Zikuski will be dismissed following the results of the ongoing investigation into the July 18th incident wherein his girlfriend is seen on video harassing and hitting two Black teenagers while he was present. The city deserves a transparent selection process, the widest pool of qualified candidates to choose from, and real input from residents. As the power to appoint the Chief rests exclusively with Binghamton’s Mayor, no outside approval or consultation will be necessary to select the next Chief. A rushed process overseen by one person, selecting from a small group of current Binghamton Police Officers would undermine public safety and harm police-community relations, and demonstrate a clear lack of imagination or initiative by the current Mayor.

“The next Police Chief, whether that decision needs to be made within the next few months or the next few years, must be a highly qualified officer who is accountable to the people of Binghamton,” Miles Burnett said. “They will have the difficult task of bringing stability to the department and rebuilding trust with residents, all the while leading critical police work. A community-driven process, with town halls throughout the City, hearings held by the City Council, and public vetting of candidates drawn from a large applicant pool, will reinforce the legitimacy and respect the next Chief needs to lead the force. As a City, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to determine the future of policing in Binghamton. We cannot squander it by limiting the number of applicants and letting the decision fall to a single individual making a rushed decision in an attempt to bury this scandal during an election year.”

Burnett also commended all the people who have spoken out previously on this matter and the City Council for taking the matter so seriously. The next City Council Business Meeting, which will include public comment, is upcoming on August 27, 2025 at 6pm at City Hall. Burnett urges the community to show their support for the open search for a Police Chief that Binghamton deserves.

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