A law enforcement leader from Orange County, Florida, has been selected as the town of Windsor's next police chief.
Stephen Garrison, a major with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, was named chief of police in Windsor on Tuesday after a nationwide search that lasted several months.
Garrison has more than 36 years of experience in law enforcement, and he brings extensive leadership, management and administrative experience to Windsor, according to a news release.
“I am honored to have been selected as your next Chief of Police and look forward to joining the community,” Garrison said in the news release. “I am committed to building trusted relationships with the residents of Windsor, as well as the outstanding officers and professional staff of the police department. Ensuring the safety of the community will always be my top priority.”
Of Garrison's 36 years in law enforcement, 33 have been with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. In that time, he has led the special operations and criminal investigation divisions, which has included overseeing SWAT, emergency management, the narcotics unit, the K9 unit, and serving as the chief of detectives, managing more than 350 investigations personnel, according to the news release.
Garrison also served as the high-risk incident commander for the sheriff's office and was responsible for taking command during critical incidents, which included the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting. Forty-nine people were killed and 53 were injured in the shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
“The breadth of Maj. Garrison’s law enforcement experience is just incredible,” Windsor Town Manager Shane Hale said in the news release. “As our community and the surrounding region continue to grow, Maj. Garrison’s expertise and leadership will be a huge asset for our department.”
Garrison was one of five finalists for the position. Town officials started their search for a new police chief after Chief Richard Klimek announced his retirement in January after 38 years in law enforcement.
“In the end, we had five fantastically qualified candidates and Maj. Garrison stood out among his talented peers as the right person to lead the police department," Hale said in the news release.
Windsor Police Commander Aaron Lopez has been serving as interim chief since Klimek's retirement. Lopez was also a finalist for the town's next chief.
“I’m especially grateful to Cmdr. Lopez for his steady hand and leadership over the past year as Acting Chief," Hale said in the news release. "He has led the department through two officer involved shootings and helped to oversee the construction of our new police station while also being shorthanded. His commitment and dedication to this community does not go unnoticed.”
Lopez will continue to lead the department until Garrison's official start date, which is expected to be near the end of August, according to the news release.
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