CROWN POINT | Police Chief Pete Land and Fire Chief Greg DeLor officially reclaimed leadership of their departments during a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday.

"I realize it's a unique situation that I'm in with Chief DeLor," Land said after the ceremony. "We get a second chance to run our respective departments."

Both men headed their departments under former Mayor Jim Metros but were replaced when Mayor Dan Klein took office. Klein, a Republican, now is succeeded by Mayor David Uran.

Land was replaced by Keith Hefner, who retained his top post throughout Klein's administration. Klein chose Gary Huys to take over for DeLor. Huys resigned slightly less than a year later, and it was a revolving door of Crown Point fire chiefs for the rest of Klein's administration.

Uran said he put his confidence in Land and DeLor's leadership from the beginning of his 2007 campaign. The two men share his vision for the future of Crown Point, the mayor said.

Uran also swore in newly appointed Assistant Police Chief Jim Janda and Assistant Fire Chief Gerard Abraham, who has held his post for 17 years.

DeLor said his priorities are filling staff openings on the full-time rotation, improving the technical rescue division and keeping pace with Crown Point's growth.

"It's good to be back," he said.

Land said he needs to replace Cpl. Joe Swanson, who left last year, and Cpl. Keith Stevens, who is Uran's chief of staff.

The Crown Point Police Department also is developing a formal promotions policy to take the politics out of the process, Land said.

In the past, the Crown Point Board of Works interviewed eligible candidates and selected officers for promotion.

Land said he would like to see Crown Point use an outside firm to conduct interviews and written tests to establish a ranking system.