The new year brought many changes to town of DeWitt Police Department. First, former chief Gene Conway left his position after 12 years to take on the role of Onondaga County Sheriff.
Also on Jan, 1, James Hildmann, who has been with the department for more than 15 years, became the next chief of the DeWitt Police Department. At a ceremony held Jan. 5, Hildmann was officially sworn-in as DeWitt’s chief.
Eagle Bulletin reporter Hayleigh Gowans got the chance to ask Chief Hildmann some questions during this time of transition.
Can you give me an overview of your law enforcement career?
In the early 90’s while in college, I worked as a counselor at Hillbrook Detention Center, which is a juvenile detention facility in Syracuse. In 1995, I was hired as a police officer and worked about 10 months with the village of Liverpool. They then merged with the Syracuse Police Department in 1996. I worked with Syracuse from 1996 to 1998 and transferred to DeWitt Police Department in 1998.
I was a police officer from 1998 to 2002, working all three shifts, responsible for police calls for service and evidence technician duties. In 2002, I was appointed to the youth investigator position where I was responsible for juvenile investigations, all youth and community programs and acted a s liaison with 11 schools in our jurisdiction. In 2005 I was promoted to the rank of sergeant and worked in the patrol division as supervisor on the night shift and then the day shift. In 2007 I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant as the patrol commander, being responsible for six sergeants and their assigned officers. I was promoted to the rank of captain in 2009 and have held that position for the past five years. My duties included overseeing two police lieutenants, overall police operations, human resources, training, grants and serving as the acting chief in the chief’s absence.
Why did you decide to go into law enforcement?
When I was younger I had several people that lived in my neighborhood who were police officers and I really looked up to them. One of them was a sheriff’s deputy K9 who lived behind me in the neighborhood. He would bring his patrol car home and show it to us. He would also interact with my friends and I in the green area behind our homes. All of us really admired and respected him. As with many young kids, I wanted to ‘be like him when I grow up.’
In college, I was exposed to a lot of classes that related to juveniles and that brought me to an internship at Hillbrook Detention Center. I enjoyed my time as a counselor there for almost five years. During that time, I had a lot of interaction with police who would bring the juveniles after their arrest to Hillbrook. I counseled the kids who were brought in, but never knew little about why they ended up there. This relationship with the police at Hillbroook furthered my interest in law enforcement. I then shifted gears from the juvenile arena to law enforcement. Once I did a couple of internships and ride alongs with law enforcement; I decided to pursue the career and become a police officer myself.
What are your thoughts on being selected as the next chief for the DeWitt Police Department?
First, I’ve very humbled and honored to be given this position. The town had the ability to appoint a police chief from either an external civil service list that had 12 candidates, an internal list that I was on or appoint someone provisionally pending the results of a civil service exam. Their decision to stay internal not only benefits myself, but the entire department with upward movement and morale.
I’m truly honored they selected me. It’s a culmination of my career in law enforcement and I’m excited to serve the residents and represent the fine officers who are employed at Dewitt Police Department.
What do you think about Gene Conway taking the role of county Sheriff?
It’s bittersweet — I’m close with Sheriff Conway. We have a great working relationship and respect for each other. Over the last five years, he has treated me like a fellow Chief and was great to work for/with. Sheriff Conway has been a great leader and mentor to me personally. He was directly responsible for my promotions within this agency and I’m forever indebted to him for that.
I didn’t want to see him leave our department, but I’m very excited for him because I know how passionate he was to become Sheriff. Although he is faced with many challenges at the moment, he has great vision for the sheriff’s department.
In Dewitt, he will be missed, but I am confident that we will remain in close contact. Our working relationship will now benefit not only Dewitt Police Department, but the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, and the residents we all serve.
What would you say the highlight of your career so far has been?
When I was given the opportunity to be the chief of police, I started to think about my career over the last 20 years. Most important to me is the fact that I still love coming to work … I truly feel that way and everyday seems to be a highlight. I’m able to come in, work with excellent police officers and support staff to get the mission done every day.
If I had to think of one highlight that stands out in my mind in the early part of my career is the connection I had with young people when I was assigned to the schools as an investigator. I was responsible for safety programs and was the liaison for 11 different schools in the town of DeWitt. The relationships you build with kids are very important — I have 3 children of my own — and it’s the positive interactions I had with children stands out to me in my career. I still run into some of them and I am honored that they remember me from my days in their classroom.
Unfortunately, in law enforcement we usually are interacting with citizens at a time that may be negative in their life; whether it’s a car accident, traffic ticket, domestic dispute, arrest or a victim of a crime. As an investigator in the schools, it was a great opportunity to become a positive law enforcement image to the children and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
What are your views of police mounted body cameras?
I recognize the need and benefits for body mounted cameras, but have some concerns if we were to implement the program. First, the cost and second, the storage and management of all that video.
I think it protects the officer as well as the citizen. Here in our department, and it’s similar with the vehicle cameras, if you’re acting professionally and doing your job properly, there’s not one officer who is opposed to having that recorded … One other issue I raise is that some citizens, specifically victims of a crime, may not want to be recorded regarding a personal matter. Officers may want to record something else going on during that call, but may capture video that may end up in a public courtroom. As mentioned earlier, I also have concerns with the storage, maintenance, and overall cost of the program. Those are the questions I would want to clear up before making any decision about whether to implement a body camera program.
What issues do you think most affect the DeWitt community?
Right now I think our biggest issue are residential burglaries. Over the summer, we had an increase in residential burglaries and recently they are occurring when people are home during the night. That is of great concern.
I think that is the number one focus for us — trying to reduce the amount of residential burglaries. We have investigated and ended a couple of strings of burglaries with arrests, only to get more reported by different groups.
Do you have a first order of business as Chief?
I’ve been overseeing the daily operations and functions of the police department for the last five years under former Chief Conway. My first order of business to finalize the transition with East Syracuse Police Department over the next month or so. I then will work with my command staff on our strategic plan for the next five years.
What do you think your biggest challenge will be?
Right now, I think my biggest challenge is making sure that the merger is a success with East Syracuse …The challenge is to make sure as calls increase — and we’re adding on more than 7,000 calls for the village of East Syracuse in addition to the 23,000 calls we have for the town of DeWitt — everyone receives proper and professional police service.
Do you have any long term goals to accomplish as chief?
Last year, former Chief Conway, myself and the supervisory staff formulated goals for the department with strategies for 2015. We did that to ensure that this transition of leadership in 2014/2015 would be successful. As I stated, I plan to solicit members of the department to start building a long term strategic plan, which includes the goals for the department over the next few years.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
I’m just honored and humbled to have been chosen as chief of police. I’m looking forward to the future of the DeWitt Police Department.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
