CUMBERLAND — Allegany County native Gary Moore has signed on for another two years as director of the county Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Bureau of Police. His current contract expires June 30.

Moore, hired in July 2006 to oversee county public safety and security, accepted the additional responsibility as chief of police since June 2007 when the commissioners approved the creation of the Bureau of Police. Those responsibilities broadened in August 2008 when the bureau expanded and county officers took over road patrol duties from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office.

Effective July 1, Moore will no longer serve as Bureau of Police chief. Those duties are to be passed along to current Deputy Chief Bobby Dick.

“I very much appreciate the opportunity to extend my service” to the county, Moore told the commissioners on Thursday during their weekly public meeting. “It seems like it was only yesterday. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”

Acting County Administrator David Eberly said the contract extension came “after several weeks of private discussions” with Moore. Eberly said Moore had a number of “private and public sector opportunities” but he was glad Moore chose to stay with Allegany County.

Eberly said the two-year extension comes with no additional compensation. Following the announcement, Moore recommended that Dick be appointed chief of the Bureau of Police. The commissioners approved the recommendation and Bretta Reinhard, public information officer, distributed prepared news releases to the media on both issues. Eberly did not say whether Moore’s salary would be impacted by one less responsibility.

Moore’s first three years in county government have not passed without controversy. Many county residents questioned his honesty during a public meeting last August shortly after the commissioners announced the expansion of the Bureau of Police.

Moore, present at that meeting inside the Allegany High School auditorium refused even to divulge his salary — Dick revealed his at the time — and also was criticized for revealing the intent to move the C3I narcotics division to the Mexico Farms location.

In December, Moore again came under fire for using government-issued credit cards to purchase alcohol. His actions, however, were supported by the county commissioners.

Moore has been credited with bringing in $10 million in federal grants, including a recently announced $2 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, which has resulted in, among other things, adding a second floor to the Allegany County Joint Communications Center at Constitution Park.

Moore also is recognized as the facilitator in making Mexico Farms the home of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Housing Distribution and Logistics Center.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.