KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — There is a new police chief in the city of Kalamazoo.
On Thursday, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the City of Kalamazoo held a swearing-in ceremony for Vernon Coakley at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
(Photo courtesy of KDPS)
The ceremony included speeches from a number of city officials including Kalamazoo City Mayor David Anderson as well as songs and prayers from religious leaders in a socially-distanced atmosphere due to COVID-19.
“It’s not been an easy time when it comes to public safety as you can all imagine over the last few months, and I have shared some tears with the new chief…and we have bonded in those tears.” Mayor Anderson said.
“Vernon is a person that is active in our community and is deeply invested in the success of our department, our city, and the city community at large. Vernon is a person who has been on the ground connecting with people during our community’s most tense situations,” City Manager Jim Ritsema said during the ceremony.
He closed his speech by saying to Coakley, “With your strengths, talent, and experience, the future is bright for public safety, for this city, and the community.”
City Clerk Scott Borling did the formal swearing-in as Coakley hopped out of his seat in excitement. His badge was pinned by his wife Vanessa Coakley.
(Photo courtesy of KDPS)
Coakley thanked the mayor and city manager, city officials, commissioners, and other community members for believing in him.
“Get ready because we’re about to get on the ground, we’re going to do work,” he said to the commission, “I’m going to show you where accountability lies, and it lies with me.”
53-year-old Coakley has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience serving in both Detroit and Kalamazoo and became KDPS’ Assistant Chief in 2017.
The change of leadership comes as former KDPS Chief Karianne Thomas announced her retirement in September.
Thomas, who spent 27 years at the department, worked her last shift with the department on Wednesday. She was eligible for full retirement as of 2017 and will receive a one-year severance package, per her contract.
“Chief Thomas has truly been an outstanding public safety chief and community leader and we wish her and her family all the best in her retirement,” Ritsema said in a statement. “Chief Thomas helped build an outstanding department that has become a model for public safety services across the nation and we look forward to working with Chief Coakley to build on KDPS’ many successes and continue its track record of service and safety.”
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