INITIAL REPORT: Fairfield police chief to retire in February
“He knows the department really well, he’s been an officer here for 19 years and he’s worked really hard to put himself in this position,” Wendling said.
Maynard, the lone internal candidate for the job, was hired as a patrol officer by the Fairfield Police Department on June 21, 1999 — the same day as Dickey was hired to be the department’s police chief.
Wendling said he and Maynard have similar ideas as to the future of the police department, and he’s also “a great representative of the department.”
Maynard said he’s dedicated to the community he’s served for 19 years.
“Our police leaders and officers have been focused on developing and maintaining a good relationship with the citizens of Fairfield whom we are responsible to protect and serve,” he said. “I am dedicated to this community and very much look forward to leading the department’s continued strong service to residents.”
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Maynard, a graduate of both the Northwestern Center for Public Safety and the FBI National Academy, was assigned to be a detective from June 2003 to August 2008 where he, among other things, led undercover sting operations involving vice crimes.
He was promoted to sergeant in August 2008 and then to lieutenant in April 2015 where he was involved in implementing and administering departmental policies and procedures, developing the department’s budget and purchasing, developing training programs, and community relations.
Mayor Steve Miller “fully supports” Wendling’s police chief choice.
“In the time that I’ve known Steve, he has always been an outstanding police officer,” said Mayor Steve Miller. “I think he will make an excellent police chief for the city of Fairfield.”
Dickey said Maynard has “worked long and hard” to prepare himself for police chief, and considers him to be “a progressive thinker and is willing to address issues in a straightforward manner.”
“In our conversations, he wants to be involved in the fabric of the community,” he said. “I have every confidence he can lead the Fairfield Police Department for the next several years.”
Fairfield City Councilman Ron D’Epifanio, chairman of city council’s Public Safety Committee, said he’s pleased with the choice.
“I’m sure there were some strong candidates but I was glad to see the decision made by our city manager, Mark Wendling, who we have total trust in, he chose somebody from within (the department),” he said. “He’s paid his dues … and he’s well thought of by his peers.”
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