The East Chicago Police Department will now be led by Lt. Frank Smith, a 28-year veteran of the department.
Smith was chosen from 11 candidates within the department, East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland said. Copeland announced the choice Wednesday during his State of the City address at Field Elementary School.
Copeland said he’d spoken to various officers outside of those running for the position during the selection process, and the one quality that kept coming up was that they wanted someone who “said what they meant.” Smith, he felt, fit that bill.
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“The officers I spoke to said orders needed to be clear and distinct, and that there needs to be a clear command and solid command structure,” Copeland said. “For four years, I promised the (Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 59) that I would get someone from the inside, and out of the 11 candidates, every one of them could have been chief.”
Copeland said the department’s main goal going forward is to continue to build upon the changes made by former Chief Mark Becker, who resigned from the department March 4.
“In 2016, we will hire six new officers and purchase 12 new squad cars, achieving our goal of a police force with 98 officers,” the mayor said during his speech. “We have transformed our police department into a professional agency, as evidenced by the fact training hours have increased seven-fold and promotions are based on a merit system.”
Copeland said the city will also install 291 cameras citywide to give the department “eyes in the sky” in high-risk areas.
Not all officers were happy about Smith’s taking over the top spot. One, who asked to remain unidentified for fear of retribution, said many officers feel Smith was the mayor’s choice from the start.
“From what I understand, Becker recommended (Deputy Chief) Frank Maldonado to keep the department moving forward, and if the choice was to be made on qualifications, a lot of us feel (Maldonado) was the best choice,” the officer said. “Then the rumor went around that (Copeland) was picking Smith, so after hearing the announcement was finally made, a lot of officers are disappointed and afraid the department will now go backwards.”
The officer also said Copeland’s announcement at his address was the first time anyone was made aware that Smith was his choice; none of the other candidates were notified they hadn’t been chosen
As to any complaints the rank and file might have over Smith, Copeland said he went through a “very rigorous vetting process and that the interviewing process gave him a “true assessment” that Smith was the best man for the job.
“There were people who weren’t happy with Becker when I chose him, and we had four years with Becker,” Copeland said.
Smith did not return a call for comment.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.