During a special ceremony Tuesday in honor of police officers, Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young dispelled rumors that Police Commissioner David Chong is about to lose his job following last year's increase in crime.

"Certainly my language was inappropriate if I was dissatisfied with any of my commissioners in any way, shape or form," Young says.

In 2008, 12 murders happened in Mount Vernon on Chong's watch, and the town's police department lost three officers. Reports surfaced in October that Mayor Young was going to fire Chong, who was originally hired by former Mayor Ernie Davis. Since then, Mount Vernon has seen a 9 percent reduction in violent crimes, with only four murders so far this year.

Young says Chong is doing a great job as a police commissioner, and the mayor has the utmost faith in him.

"He's been [a] wonderful partner in government, and certainly he's respected in the city of Mount Vernon," Young says.

Chong admits he has a challenging job, but he has no plans of leaving any time soon.

"It's been three years that I've been here," he says. "I enjoy my job, love my job, [and] love the city of Mount Vernon."