Page 1 - November 29, 2017 Magazine Style Full page issue

NOVEMBER 29, 2017 XX NO.14

Village News

NEW CHIEF IN TOWN

INCOMING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE CHIEF JEFFREY KRATZ, FACING TELEVISION CAMERAMEN AND REPORTERS, TOOK
QUESTIONS FOLLOWING HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMUNITY TUESDAY.
BY LINDA FAUSZ
Chesterfield County introduced crisis, so my approach will be to reflect Katz’s start date is Jan. 2, 2018. heralded for rebranding his department
incoming police chief Jeffrey Kratz to my responsibilities with collaboration A Florida native and 25-year by addressing longstanding challenges
the community. Surrounded by police in and respect and honor of that tradition,” veteran of law enforcement, Katz served and inspiring innovation and an engaged
dress uniforms, area state police officers, he said, directing his comments to his as the Boynton Beach, Fla., Police workforce that takes pride in serving
the county board, county employee staff future department staffers attending Department’s chief from 2013. He will Read more on page 3
members, and the press, Kratz thanked the announcement. “I will advocate for be Chesterfield’s eighth police chief
recruitment and selection staff, the you.” since the department formed in 1914,
board, and the community at Tuesday’s Katz is taking the reins of a filling the
announcement. department of more than 500 authorized position of
“The opportunity to join and sworn and over 100 civilian personnel Col. Thierry
lead one of Virginia’s premier law- that handles more than 200,000 calls Dupuis, who
enforcement agencies is an immense for service yearly. The Chesterfield retired in
honor,” Katz said. “I’m looking forward County Police Department is accredited September.
to working with members of the by both the Virginia Law Enforcement He is a
department, county leaders, citizens, Professional Standards Commission graduate
and businesses to advance the interests and the internationally recognized of the FBI
of safety and wellness throughout our Commission on Accreditation for Law National
community.” Enforcement Agencies. Academy
The incoming police chief said The incoming chief said he will be who holds
he does not plan to come into the meeting with command staff, riding with a master’s
department and make sweeping changes. officers, and taking in some training in business
“I pride myself,” he said, “on asking exercises with his team. leadership
through questions.” He added that the Kratz is anxious to meet the and a
department has challenging and complex community he serves. He said he will bachelor’s
endeavors. “There are things about the be holding public meetings and that he in criminal
Chesterfield County Police Department is not shy about giving out his cell phone justice. In
that make it a unique institution. number to the public. Boynton
Institutions have traditions, things that To finalize he said his approach to Beach, KRATZ GREETED COUNTY’S NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER OF
make them special. It is not an agency in his job is: “Mission first, people always.” Katz is REVENUE, JENEFER HUGHES.

Your Community, Your Neighbors, Your News