The city of Reading has a new police chief.
City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting Wednesday to appoint Elias Vasquez as chief of police.
The appointment is conditional on Vasquez meeting the requirements of the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission within 180 days of appointment.
“Vasquez has had a long and expertise-filled career in policing,” Council President Donna Reed said.
Reed said Vasquez served 26 years with the Tampa, Fla., police department where he served as assistant chief.
He has experience in nearly all realms of police work.
“Tampa may be larger than us,” Reed said of Reading, “but we’re the fourth largest city in the state. We have the same kind of urban issues.”
Vasquez was recommended by Mayor Eddie Moran and William Heim, city managing director and former police chief, Reed said, noting council conducted a lengthy interview with the candidate prior to the meeting.
Heim read a statement from the mayor, who was unable to attend:
“Mr. Vasquez has a long and successful career in municipal policing, and has been promoted through many ranks in a variety of assignments with the Tampa Police Department. Throughout this hiring process, he has demonstrated that he knows how to fight crime. He knows how to engage the community and he knows how to organize and run an urban police department. He has walked the walk and has committed to the mayor and the managing director that he will do the same in Reading.”
Heim said the mayor plans to formally introduce Vasquez to the community at a public event in January.
Outgoing Councilman Christopher Daubert thanked the mayor and administration for hiring Vasquez.
“I think the public is going to be so well served by him,” Daubert said. “It was an extremely impressive interview, and his credentials speak for themselves. So I enthusiastically will be making my final vote on this body a great one for the city and its residents by appointing Mr. Vasquez as our police chief.”
Outgoing councilwomen Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz and Wanda Negron said they also were impressed with Vasquez, who speaks English and Spanish.
Goodman-Hinnershitz, who has served 20 years on council, said Vasquez was the most impressive candidate for the position since Heim, who was appointed managing director last year.
Councilman Wesley Butler said he was particularly impressed by Vasquez’s pledge of zero tolerance for police brutality.
Source: Berkshire mont
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