New Mishawaka police chief's goals listed: transparency, innovation, maintaining standards

MISHAWAKA — The newly sworn-in Mishawaka Chief of Police promised to uphold the high standards set by his predecessor while also looking to explore new strategies to fit the demands in law enforcement.

The City of Mishawaka knew to expect Ken Witkowski’s retirement. Alex Arendt said it's been a work in progress for a couple years now. In that time, Arendt was chosen as Witkowski’s successor, where he trained under Witkowski before it was time to slip into the role.

To prepare for his new position, Arendt was guided by Witkowski, involved in various aspects of what he does. For Arendt, Witkowski offered a wealth of experience.

“I’ve just been like a sponge,” he said, “just absorbing as much of that as I can, so that when this day comes, I’d be ready to step forward.”

Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood knew Witkowkski, Arendt and former Chief of the Detective Bureau Dan Gebo, before Gebo retired from the department to serve as a school resource officer for LaSalle Elementary School , before Wood became mayor.

Chief Arendt has been with the Mishawaka Police Department for 29 years. Now, 25 years after Wood met Arendt, he administered the oath as Arendt placed his hand over the family Bible swearing his pledge to the city and the department he now leads.

Arendt was sworn in on Aug. 27 during a Board of Public Works meeting before his family, fellow officers and predecessor. Witkowski was the longest-running police chief in Mishawaka serving 20 years and in the department for 36. The City of Mishawaka announced Witkowski's retirement from the police department on Aug. 19. He began his new position for the city as the Director of Code Enforcement the next day.

“Years ago, I learned that to do a good job, you have to surround yourself with good people,” Witkowski told attendees. “You have to surround yourself with people smarter than you.”

He said their department scrutinizes their recruiting and has a history of hiring the best.

“I think we have the best department in the State of Indiana by far,” Witkowski said. “I can assure you, you can't find better leadership than these two gentlemen here,” he said, gesturing to Arendt and Timothy Wiley, who was promoted to Gebo’s former position as Assistant Chief of the MPD Detective Bureau.

Wood thanked Arendt’s family and shook their hands.

“I promise we’ll keep him safe,” he told them.

Years ago, Arendt had interviewed for an assistant chief position, Wood said. Though he wasn’t chosen, “he confirmed our thoughts that he was chief ability,” Wood said.

Wood is proud of the department they've created.

“I think we’re the most talented — from the top to bottom,” Wood added. “From the officer we hire, all the way up to chief, I would say that the top level has never been as high as it is today.”

He credited the police department’s shift model and culture.

He said the current officers are by far the most talented the department has ever had and they’re compensated for that. Some officers have a higher salary than he does, Wood said.

“That says something about how we value this profession,” he said.

As for how Arendt is feeling with the weight of his new position, he said he’s just proud to lead.

It wasn’t always in his plan to become chief of police. However, as he stepped into leadership roles during the time he served in St. Joseph County’s Metro Homicide Unit as a crime scene investigator and assistant commander, achieving the position of chief of police became his goal, he said.

As a former Services Division Chief as well, Arendt has worked with various city departments where he gathered an understanding of budgeting and finance in relation to operations, he said.

Now taking over the position, Arendt plans to keep some of Witkowski’s approach and to also incorporate some of his own.

“He laid the groundwork here for the department,” Arendt said. “I don’t look to change a whole lot on that.”

Under Witkowski’s leadership, Mishawaka Police switched from 8-hour shifts to 12 hours , the county dispatch center was changed , and he oversaw the moving of the police department to the new city hall and re-established the department’s homicide unit after the County Metro Homicide Unit disbanded .

Arendt said 12-hour shifts have been effective and it’s something he’ll continue.

“We’re going to be transparent in how we do business and we’re going to look into innovative ways on how to use technology and equipment to better serve and be more effective in how we do our jobs,” he said.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New Mishawaka police chief's goals listed: transparency, innovation, maintaining standards