GREENVILLE — The Treaty City said “Hello” to a new department head Thursday, as Steve Strick was sworn in as Greenville’s Chief of Police.
A 22-year veteran of the department, Strick took his oath of office in the council chambers of Greenville’s Municipal Building, accompanied by his wife, Kelly, and with the oath administered by Greenville Mayor Steve Willman. Strick takes over the position from retiring Chief Dennis L. Butts.
Strick, 52, is a 1983 graduate of Beavercreek High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1983 to 1986. After the Marines, Strick enrolled at Sinclair Community College, receiving an associate’s degree in Law Enforcement. He then attended Wright State University and enrolled in the university’s ROTC program, obtaining a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army.
Strick resigned his commission upon being hired full-time by the Greenville Police Department. He served as a patrol officer from 1995 to 2006, when he was then promoted to sergeant and worked as a road sergeant until 2008. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and has served as operations lieutenant for the department until being named chief.
As he was sworn in, council chamber seats were filled with his fellow officers, family, friends, and members of other city departments, all on hand to wish him the best.
“This is kind of a unique opportunity for me,” said Mayor Willman. “You don’t often replace a chief. It’s a great pick. He’s been around for a good while and I already appreciate his time here with the city, and he’s going to be a great replacement for Chief Butts.”
Strick said he was “very excited” to get to work in his new position.
“I’ve been looking forward to it and hopefully do as good a job as Chief Butts did,” he said.
The new chief said there are no big changes planned for the department in the short term.
“We’ll get settled in first and look at things,” he said, noting that as operations lieutenant, he’s already been in charge of daily operations at the station for more than eight years.
“Chief Butts let me run the department the way I saw fit, with very minimal guidance, so I got things running the way I want right now. Some minor changes, but won’t be happening right away,” Strick added.
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