Governor Dannel P. Malloy said August 26 he has accepted the resignation state Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner James E. Dzurenda, 48, effective August 29.

After more than 27 years of state service, Mr Dzurenda accepted an offer from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to assume the post of first deputy commissioner for that city’s DOC.

In his new position, under NYC DOC Commissioner Joseph Ponte, Mr Dzurenda will oversee the jails in each of the city’s five boroughs, plus Rikers Island.

Mr Dzurenda formerly served as the warden at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown, serving in that role from April 2005 to mid-2009. 

“Crime is at historic lows in our state, and without a doubt Jim [Dzurenda] and the other hard-working professionals in the department are playing a critical role in that effort,” said Gov Malloy said in a statement.

“With Jim’s help, our state has implemented smarter laws that ensure violent offenders serve more time and get the treatment they need so that they are less likely to commit additional crimes when they’re released. I want to thank him for his service, and I wish him well in this new role,” the governor said.

Mr Dzurenda was named the Connecticut DOC’s acting commissioner in November 2013. He became the full commissioner earlier this year.

“I am grateful to Governor Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Wyman for giving me the opportunity to run the state’s largest agency,” Mr Dzurenda said in the statement.

“Governor Malloy and his administration have been great supporters of the agency’s vital mission of protecting the public,” Mr Dzurenda said.

Gov Malloy has named Deputy DOC Commissioner Scott Semple to serve as DOC acting commissioner.

Mr Semple has 26 years of correctional experience.

Mr Semple served as Garner’s warden from mid-2009 to last November.