For the first time in five years, Albany is getting a new police chief. Deputy Chief Brendan Cox will become Albany's acting chief when Steven Krokoff retires on April 1.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan called on Deputy Chief Brendan Cox to serve as acting chief while a search for a new head is conducted. Krokoff is leaving the force after five years as chief for a job in the Atlanta suburbs.
Cox hits the ground running: his position gave him a front-row seat for city-police issues.
There's Central Avenue and the recent tragic crash that happened at the intersection with Quail, where a 4-year old boy crossing the street with his mother was struck and killed by a garbage truck. The crossing guard was in the opposite crosswalk, helping other pedestrians make their way across the busy avenue.
Cox: "We are there right now covering the school crossing. School crossings fall under the police department. School crossing officers are employees of the police department. If there is a school crossing that needs to be filled on a temporary basis, we have a police officer do that. The school crossing officer that is assigned to that school crossing, she is still employed with us, she is going through a traumatic incident herself being there at the time that that occurred, so we're working with her to get her back to work. She obviously did nothing wrong. She was there doing her job that day, and we're just making sure that she has the support she needs as well, just like we do with all of our employees."
Cox says the police presence at the corner has nothing to do with running red lights, the city’s incoming pilot red light cameras or anything other than concern for the safety of those crossing at busier work and school times.
Chief Krokoff, off to head the Milton, Georgia police force (and be closer to extended family), leaves his post as on solid ground after working to improve relations with the city: most noteworthy is that he's leaving on a high note, and by his own decision. Cox and fellow officers will miss him. "I not only worked for the chief for a very long time but we have worked together since I came on in 1994. We worked in the same squad. We're also personal friends. Our families are personal friends. We do a lot together, not only professionally but personally. I think most of the department, all of the department feels the way I do. We're thrilled for him, we're sad to see him leave. He has been a great, exceptional leader. He brought this department to a place where we are set up for success. I think he's leaving us in a good place. We have to make sure we continue we go down that road for success."
Krokoff's legacy includes a drop in citywide crime, attributed to his "strategic plan" that grew out of a community approach to policing including creating the community police advisory board, opening the Neighborhood Engagement Unit and reaching out to local activists to work with them against gun violence. "Just an unbelievable amount of sacrifices for this city and this department. So the fact that he's going to be able to put himself in a spot where he's gonna be able to be closer to family, I'm very happy for him."
But with Krokoff exiting, would Cox like to be permanent police chief? "I'm going to respect the mayor's process that I know she is looking at doing right now. I know she is working through that. Everything is still pretty fresh. Being asked to be interim chief is an honor. It is an honor to lead the men and women of this department. They do a phenomenal job every day. And it's certainly an honor to serve the citizens of this city. I grew up here, this is my hometown. It's an honor just to be acting chief."
Will there be any changes? "We just need to stay focused on our strategic plan, and continue to build our community policing philosophy and continue to work with the community and our partners to not only reduce crime but to continue to increase quality of life for the citizens we serve."
