Friday, December 21, 2007 10:12 PM CST
Welch stepping down as police chief
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Paul Welch has resigned as Charleston police chief to take on the challenge of forming Edgewood, New Mexico’s first police department.
City Manager Scott Smith plans to appoint an interim chief next week and begin the hiring process for a permanent one later this winter. Welch, who became chief in January 2005, will conclude his tenure late next week.
Welch, 59, will serve as the chief of the first police department in Edgewood, which he said incorporated as a town in 1999. He said Edgewood is located not far from Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and the town has experienced a tremendous amount of development.
“It’s a once-in-a-career opportunity to start something from scratch and build it up,” Welch said. “I have done quite a bit in my 37-year career and this was one thing I have not done.”
Welch said he has had a great three years in Charleston and only an opportunity like this could drag him away from his current position.
“We want to wish him the very best,” Smith said. “I know he will do a great job for them. Our loss is their gain.”
Smith said one of Welch’s accomplishments has been carrying out the city’s goal of enhancing the training for the police command staff. He said Welch helped step up training from patrol officers on up through supervisors.
Mayor John Inyart said Welch led a re-organizing of the command structure that included the creation of two deputy chief positions. The deputy chiefs are Dave Chambers and Mark Jenkins.
Smith said with this command structure in place, he does not feel pressured to begin the hiring process for a permanent chief in early January. He said the beginning of the year will be filled by budget preparations, FutureGen planning, and other projects.
“We have people who can step up and run the police department,” Smith said. He added a permanent chief could be hired by spring.
Inyart and Smith said some of Welch’s other accomplishments have included helping start the Coles County Crime Stoppers program, initiating the Citizens Police Academy, changing squad car colors to a highly visible black and white, reviving the bike patrol, seeing through police station renovations, and utilizing the new fire-police training site.
“(Welch) has brought us a fresh perspective, some out-of-the-box ideas we may or may not have thought of,” Inyart said. For example, the mayor said Welch suggested bringing in police administrators from outside the area, via a human resources firm, to serve as impartial assessors of deputy chief candidates.
As chief, Welch said he often built upon programs discussed or started by previous administrations. Welch said he appreciated working with a forward-thinking Charleston City Council.
Welch was hired in January 2005 to replace retiring Chief Ted Ghibellini. Welch had prior experience serving as police chief in first Monona, Wis., and then Wisconsin Rapids.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 filed a lawsuit in March 2005 asking the court to invalidate the hiring of the new chief and issue an injunction compelling the city to hire a qualified city employee for this position. The lawsuit ultimately was voluntarily dismissed at the union’s request in December of that year.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
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fire2000 wrote on Dec 21, 2007 3:54 PM: