Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2021

21 www. ReadMPM. com | www. VOICE forRea l Es tate. com | www.MountPl easantBu i l der s . com MPM: Both you and Deputy Chief Arnold have had long careers with MPPD, which is really very rare, I think, in policing. What is it about the town of Mount Pleasant and the department that have led you to serve its citizens for so long? CR: I got my start with North Charleston PD and enjoyed my time there, but coming here to Mount Pleasant, it just seemed like a family atmosphere from day one. The people of Mount Pleasant respect the police department, and we have respect for our community, and that goes a long way. The mayor and council have always been very supportive of the police department, and the Town Administrator has a succession plan that allows us to promote from within and provide opportunities to develop officers at all levels. MPM: What do you think makes Deputy Chief Arnold the right person to step in and fill your shoes? CR: Deputy Chief Arnold has the support of the officers and the other staff below him, which I think is so important. He has demonstrated to me that he truly cares about this agency and the citizens that we serve. I’ve watched him in some very stressful situations throughout his career, and he’s handled them very well. He’s also well respected by the surrounding agencies, which we work closely with on a regular basis. If we can’t work together, we can’t succeed, so that’s very important. MPM: Being a police officer and husband and father definitely is not easy. And I think it’s probably even more difficult as chief. What are you looking forward to doing with your family when you retire? CR: Being present for my family. And what I mean by that is, quite frankly, that I have not had a vacation in probably eight years. I’ve taken a weekend off here and there. But even then, I’m constantly on call. I have to check emails, texts, take phone calls and be ready to deal with something at any time of day. MPM: Being part of the police force means that you never have two days that look alike. You live in a constant state of adrenaline and have to be prepared for high-intensity situations at any time, which is kind of the opposite of being retired. How do you plan on combating the boredom of doing the same thing every day and not having a high-intensity situation always looming over you? CR: I’m starting a new job the Monday after I retire, actually. I’ll be working with a company called MUR Strategic, which is owned by a retired police officer. I will be the Director of Education and Training and will be feature