March 3, 2005

EDITORIAL

Good choice for police chief

Village Manager Rob Hillard made a solid choice last week when he promoted John Grote to the position of police chief. Chief Grote is a levelheaded, selfless officer who has spent his entire law enforcement career with the Village, rising from the ranks of patrolman to captain to, finally, chief. He’s served as interim chief three times, providing with him valuable on-the-job training. A native of Yellow Springs, Chief Grote is also a well-respected member of this community.

He should do an excellent job running the police force, which has the largest number of employees in the Village government and the second biggest budget.

Chief Grote replaces Carl Bush, whose resignation last month was a surprise. He left after just 14 months here for what he called personal reasons related to potential changes in his family. No one can criticize him for putting his family over his career.

Perhaps even more encouraging than Chief Grote’s resume are his own comments on his new job. In an interview last week, he said that after a lot of thought he applied for the position because he was ready for the challenge, that it was time for him “to step up.” He also talked of how he’s prepared for this day during his 19 years with the department, how he’s been the person who worked in the background helping to make his coworkers’ jobs easier and getting them the tools to be better cops and dispatchers. “I feel I’m devoted to the job,” he said, “I like working for the Village, I like being here.”

He compared his thinking today with 2003, when the Village was also searching for a chief. Displaying admirable candor, he said, “I didn’t think I was ready” then, and he thought that there were better candidates for the job.

Mr. Bush, was one of those candidates. Chief Grote said he “liked some of the things” his former boss was doing here, including implementing more training requirements within the department and upgrading needed equipment, and noted that he hopes to maintain the “momentum” started by Mr. Bush. Though he was only here a short time, Mr. Bush had a productive tenure and — in between the tumultuous events of 2004 — he was starting to make a difference in the Police Department. As he said in January, he was trying to institute a more professional culture within the department.

After nearly two decades with the Yellow Springs Police Department, John Grote deserves a chance to lead the force. His experience and integrity are unquestionable. And by serving as the second-in-command under Mr. Bush, Chief Grote will help the department, which now has its third chief in two years, undergo a smooth transition.

—Robert Mihalek