Business leaders and residents are petitioning Mayor Mike Spano to keep a Yonkers police captain from being transferred from his post.

A city spokesperson told News 12 that they have received numerous pleas urging the mayor to keep Capt. Robert Itzla where he is.

Pizza shop owner Maria Malota collected dozens of signatures on the captain's behalf in an effort to reverse the decision.

"Why fix something that isn't broken?" she asked.

Itzla's union released a statement that said, "the department has the right to transfer anyone within the department. It's management's prerogative as long as they follow rules stated in the contract."

Itzla, who had been a commanding officer in Yonkers for just seven months, is being reassigned to the city jail. The longtime police veteran, with 31 years of service, is scheduled to begin his new tour of duty on Monday.