Robin Lees takes his oath as Youngstown's new police chief
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The city of Youngstown's new police chief officially takes his oath of office.
Chief Robin Lees tells 21 News he plans to use his decades of law enforcement experience to restructure the department for improved efficiency.
With one hand on the Bible, and his daughter Stephanie by his side, Robin Lees took his oath at 10am in Youngstown City Council Chambers.
He was sworn-in by the city's new Mayor, John McNally, who actually sought out Lees to be the city's top law cop.
"I appreciate Mayor McNally's confidence in me, and I will not let him down. It's time to restructure. Look at how we deliver services, and how we can do it more efficiently, and hopefully put more officers into the neighborhoods and various areas of the city," Chief Lees said.
Lees feels he's inheriting a police department that is already effective. However, he plans to meet with union leaders, civil service and city council members to determine how to make officers at every level, even those at the highest ranks, more efficient and flexible for the community they protect and serve.
Nathaniel Pinkard who is currently the city's Third Ward Councilman and the Chairman of the Safety Committee was hired as a patrol officer in 1978, along with Chief Lees, and says he has every confidence in the new Chief's ability.
"I've known Robin well over 34 years or pretty close to that... and I think he's coming to the city well prepared, well educated, and he's worked the entire spectrum of the police department from patrolman to lieutenant, and various assignments, and special units. I hope that we'll be able to reduce call times and give a little bit more attention to quality of life issues that affect our neighborhoods and our citizens," Pinkard said.
John R. Swierz, the Seventh Ward Councilman wants to see more patrols, "The 7th Ward used to be a ward that was quiet and sleepy and now we've had three murders this last year, and the reality is, we are the busiest beat, 204 in the city of Youngstown, and I'm hoping that finally under this Chief and this Administration we can get a 2nd beat car there."
Lees who retired as a Lieutenant in 2011, after 33 years in law enforcement, was the long-time commander of Mahoning Valley's Law Enforcement Task Force and Vice-Squads, and an instructor at the police academy. ...Experience and a spirit of "cooperation" he believes is essential to lead YPD.
"I think that's demonstrated by the reduced violent crime rate, and some of the other successes we've had. I've been involved in regional policing much of my career and I think that will lend itself to the cooperation of other agencies, and government officials from Congress to state senators and state representatives. Those will be tools as far as the networking, and hopefully will bear fruit, and help us do our job."
