Police Chief resigns

Winslow's Chief of Police, Ray Sands, has resigned effected July 23. This was announced June 30. He will leave to become the Chief of Police in Greenfield, California, a town of about 11,000.

Sands has been in Winslow for four years and said that he really had a hard time making the decision to leave. In fact, he changed his mind at one point and called Greenfield to let them know he was staying. Then he and his wife decided that this was a move they need to make.

While the Sands' have a retirement home build in the Payson area they may have a problem ever getting the retirement to live in it if they stay in Arizona. Chief Sands worked in California over 17 years and needs three more to have full benefits. There is no reciprocity with Arizona. To make matters worse, Sands was over 50 when he came to Winslow and thus not eligible to enter the DPS retirement plan. He said that he had been in Winslow for over a month when all this came to light. Arizona State retirement takes a long time to get fully vested, so his savings through that are minimal.

Then the chief got an offer to head the department in Greenfield. This puts him in the right place for his retirement savings and also close to the daughter who is having their first grandchild.

"We have been on an emotional roller coaster for three weeks since they made the offer," Sands said. He said that he and his wife are very comfortable in Winslow and have many friends here. "I still had things I wanted to do," he added.

His main concentration has been on building recognition in the community for the police department and a new sense of integrity both in the department and in its relationship with the city. "The values and goals for effective policing will carry on," Sands said. "The officers realize the future for law enforcement is community based policing and citizen satisfaction." He hopes the next chief will have those goals.

When asked how long it took him to really get up and running in the job here, Sands said it was about two years. There was a lot of turmoil in the department and the community. The department was in a protective mode and the community was hostile. "We've made giant steps since I came here," he concluded.

City Administrator Don McDaniel said that while it was probably legal for him to make a decision about the acting chief, he normally takes those decisions to the City Council and expects to bring this one before them soon. McDaniel will interview the primary candidates and take a recommendation to the council.

Sands said, "I can tell you we have a great pool to draw from."

f

Donate to nhonews.com Report a Typo Contact
Most Read