James Baird Appointed City of Ann Arbor Police Chief
Archived News Release: February 17, 2016 - Last night, Ann Arbor City Council appointed James Baird Police Chief.
Since July 2015, Baird has served as Interim Police Chief. He was hired by the City of Ann Arbor as a Patrol Officer in 1993 and was appointed Deputy Chief of Police, Operations Division, in 2013. His law enforcement experience includes detective, patrol, and SWAT operational and management responsibilities. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.
"Jim Baird was a finalist after the city completed a nationwide search, reflecting the quality of his leadership and management experiences," said Interim City Administrator Tom Crawford. "He would be a leading Police Chief candidate for any city the size of Ann Arbor. Combined with his established knowledge of local capabilities and challenges, Jim is well suited for this internal promotion. He has the experience and dedication necessary to lead our police department and to serve our community."
The Police Chief is responsible for the administrative supervision and leadership of all of the city police services which includes a budget of $26 million and 149 employees.
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Ann Arbor has 123,851 residents, spans 28.97 square miles and is frequently recognized as a foremost place to live, learn, work, thrive and visit.
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The city's mission is to deliver exceptional services that sustain and enhance a vibrant, safe and diverse community.
