New chief in town
Pictured, from left, are Mayor Ralph Petrella, Municipal Judge John Mascio, Steubenville Police Chief Wes Crawford, Marci Crawford, City Manager Mike Johnson and retired Police Chief Ken Anderson. Crawford, a 23-year veteran of the department, officially assumed the role following Anderson's retirement on July 20.
Marci Crawford pins the chief's badge on her husband, Wes Crawford, during Tuesday's ceremony officially swearing him in as chief of the Steubenville Police Department.
Marci Crawford pins the chief's badge on her husband, Wes Crawford, during Tuesday's ceremony officially swearing him in as chief of the Steubenville Police Department.
Pictured, from left, are Mayor Ralph Petrella, Municipal Judge John Mascio, Steubenville Police Chief Wes Crawford, Marci Crawford, City Manager Mike Johnson and retired Police Chief Ken Anderson. Crawford, a 23-year veteran of the department, officially assumed the role following Anderson's retirement on July 20.
Marci Crawford pins the chief's badge on her husband, Wes Crawford, during Tuesday's ceremony officially swearing him in as chief of the Steubenville Police Department.
Marci Crawford pins the chief's badge on her husband, Wes Crawford, during Tuesday's ceremony officially swearing him in as chief of the Steubenville Police Department.
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STEUBENVILLE -- Newly sworn-in Police Chief Wes Crawford said Tuesday he's "really excited for the opportunity" to lead the department.
"I'm very humbled by it," Crawford said after taking his oath in front of a crowd of well-wishers. "I'm going to work hard to build upon that trust that you've shown in me and lead this great department into the future."
Crawford, 46, told onlookers, including a large contingent from within the department as well as family members, that they had played key roles in his personal and professional development.
"Everybody in this room has been so important," he said. "Whether I've supervised you, worked with you or you've supervised me, I've learned more about myself as a man than I could ever think. I appreciate everything that everybody in this room's ever done for me."
He credited retired Chief Ken Anderson's commitment to ensuring officers had access to the latest technology and equipment with "putting this department into a great position to serve the city at a high level for years to come."
"On a personal note, your willingness to stick around with me for the past couple weeks when you could have left ... it means the world to me," Crawford told Anderson. "You put me way ahead of the curve."
He also thanked Anderson's predecessor, retired Chief Bill McCafferty, saying, "You took a chance on me 23 years ago."
"Your leadership, encouragement and support while you were chief always put me in a position to succeed," Crawford said.
Addressing current members of the department, Crawford said, "Being able to supervise you guys for the past eight years ... has been an honor."
"My leadership style has always been that I've never expected anybody to work for me, I just want you to work with me. I'll never ask you to do anything that I would not be willing to do myself," he said. "I just want you guys to keep showing up, keep doing the work and strive to do it at a high level. Come to work every day with a positive attitude and a service-minded approach to the job and I will fight tirelessly to support and protect you."
Crawford also credited his wife, Marci, sons Jonah and Garrett and other family members for understanding that "sometimes work comes before ... other things."
City Manager Mike Johnson said he expects Crawford to "do a great job," adding, "I'm here to help him succeed and the police department thrive."
Mayor Ralph Petrella said both Anderson and McCafferty had done "a wonderful job ... of getting us to this point from where Steubenville was" and said he believes Crawford will carry that progress forward.
Anderson praised Crawford's preparation for the transition, saying he "worked incredibly hard these past several weeks getting up to speed on the day-to-day responsibilities of the office."
"His dedication, commitment and desire to lead will serve him, our department and our citizens well," Anderson said. "He will continue to move the department forward while supporting our employees who work incredibly hard every day to serve and protect Steubenville."