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Anthony Pettiford
Village names new police chief
- Published: October 31, 2012
Village Manager Laura Curliss announced this morning that she named village resident Tony Pettiford the new Yellow Springs chief of police. Village Council plans to consider legislation approving a contract with Pettiford at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 5. If approved, his first day on the job will be Monday, Nov. 19.
Pettiford replaces current interim Chief Arthur Scott, who came to the Village police department when former Chief John Grote retired in February. Scott, who lives in Lebanon, was one of three finalists being considered for the position.
Pettiford is currently the chief of police at Central State University. Mr. Pettiford began his career with the Greene County Sheriff’s office, having served there for 27 years and achieving the rank of Major of Operations. During his career Mr. Pettiford was Commander of the Greene County regional SWAT unit in addition to his other duties. He has trained at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, the FBI school at Quantico, and at the Northwestern University Command School.
“I am pleased that Mr. Pettiford put his name forward for consideration. His professional career has prepared him well for this position,” Curliss said in a press release today. “During the search process it was clear that he has the best interests of the Village in his heart.”
Curliss also said it was clear that Pettiford understands community policing and emphasizing the role of police “as peacekeepers, as persons who can help solve problems, prevent crime and guide behavior in addition to enforcing the law when necessary and appropriate.” She also noted that Pettiford’s experience at Central State would be applicable to policing a community that includes two college campuses, Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest.
Curliss thanked all of the citizens and Village staff who participate in the chief search, including the search committee of Village Council members Judith Hempfling and Gerald Simms, former Village Solicitor John Chambers and local attorney Ellis Jacobs. She also thanked interim Chief Art Scott for his service over the past eight months.
“While no candidate will be the choice of all, Mr. Pettiford received overwhelming support during the process,” she said. “I look forward to a great working relationship with him in providing for the safety of Village residents and visitors.”
More on this story will appear in the Nov. 8 issue of the News.
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What should you be looking for in a new police chief? How are you going to evaluate your new leader? Do one or more of the four major obstacles arresting the development of your police department exist? For insight and direction on this and other important police improvement issues, take a look at “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com in US and EU). And the blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/ where other current police improvement issues are discussed. Good luck and may we all experience not just good but great policing! Great policing is accomplished by police who are well-trained and led, restrained in their use of force, honest, and courteous to every person.
THANK YOU for picking the local, the man who knows are village all around and YET has MUCH experience and training and has worked with young folks at Central State. A REAL WINNER for YS!
Great news!