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Chris Jones appointed GPD assistant chief, chief-in-waiting
A 20-year veteran of the Greencastle City Police Department, Capt. Chris Jones was named assistant chief Wednesday afternoon, and if things go according to plan, he will be the city’s new police chief by mid-December.
That may seem like a meteoric rise but it’s actually a logical progression put in place by Mayor Bill Dory.
“It’s a unique situation,” Mayor Dory said of the scenario brought about by Chief Tom Sutherlin’s pending departure from the department to become chief deputy in the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a change already assured by Sheriff-elect Jerrod Baugh being unopposed in the November general election.
Jones, who technically succeeds Brian Hopkins in the assistant chief role, is expected to be sworn in next week to begin serving alongside Chief Sutherlin. Hopkins left the department earlier this year for a federal position.
Sutherlin is Baugh’s choice for his No. 2 man when the new sheriff takes over from Scott Stockton on Jan. 1.
When Sutherlin leaves GPD in mid-December, Jones will become chief and a new assistant chief will be selected.
“I’m super excited,” Jones said following the announcement of his appointment at the August Board of Works meeting. “I’m ready for the challenge.”
Jones was one of four intra-department candidates the mayor interviewed for the role. Chief Sutherlin sat in on the interview process.
“I know the department will continue to move in the right direction,” Sutherlin said, thanking the mayor for allowing him to sit in on the interviews. “I’m excited to see what will happen with all the movement with promotions over the next few months.”
Jones’ promotion leaves an immediate vacancy for the day-shift captain.
“We’ll fill the assistant chief’s position when Tom moves on and Chris moves up,” Mayor Dory said.
The police chief serves at the behest of the mayor as one of the department head appointments that go with the mayor’s position. Over his 32-year career with GPD, Sutherlin has served as police chief under three multiple-term mayors, Nancy Michael, Sue Murray and Dory.
Meanwhile, the Board of Works also interviewed two candidates for an opening on the City Fire Department following the recent retirement of Capt. Kyle App.
Ben Fiest, a South Putnam graduate raised in Fillmore, was interviewed first, followed by Marine Corps veteran John Wolff, who has served as a GFD reserve over the past 18 months.
Both men have had firefighter certification and hazardous materials courses among other training.
Acting on a recommendation from Chief John Burgess and the GFD Board of Officers, the Board of Works chose Wolff to succeed App, pending PERF approval and a background check.
Fiest, meanwhile, was offered one of the department’s half-dozen part-time positions.
Board member Craig Tuggle made the motion for both decisions, made unanimous by Mayor Dory. The third member of the board, Trudy Selvia, was absent.
In other business, the board:
-- Approved a $1,539 sewer leak adjustment for a Heartland Automotive home at 1017 Shadowlawn Ave. The bathroom stool was stuck and running wide open during a two-week company shutdown in which no one was using the residence. Heartland will be responsible for the water cost but not the accompanying sewer charge.
-- Approved a $644 sewer leak adjustment for Jacob Dicks at 501 Elm St. where a leaking pipe was discovered.
-- Released a $6,880 surety bond for Whispering Winds subdivision upon recommendation of City Planner Scott Zimmerman. An $800 bond will be withheld, Zimmerman said.
-- Released bid specs to allow for proposals on a new fire truck as presented at the July meeting.
The Board of Works will next meet in regular season at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at City Hall.