South Bend Police to appoint new patrol division chief, host summer hiring event
The South Bend Police Department announced Monday morning that Capt. JosephLeszczynski has been selected by Mayor James Mueller to replace Chief Eric Crittendon as patrol division chief following Crittendon's retirement.
A South Bend native and Washington High School graduate, Leszczynski currently serves as captain of the 2nd Detail Patrol. He began his law enforcement career with the SBPD in March 1989 and is entering his 35th year of service with the department. Leszczynski will officially begin his duties as patrol division chief next month following Crittendon's departure.
Crittendon served in the SBPD for 33 years. The South Bend Community School Corp. announced in January that, following his retirement from the police force, Crittendon will fill the newly created role of security and preparedness director for the school district.
“I thank Chief Crittendon for his outstanding commitment and dedication to our community with the South Bend Police Department for more than three decades and wish him the best as he takes on an important new role keeping our schools safe,” Mueller said in a statement provided by the SBPD. "I congratulate Captain Leszczynski, who brings proven leadership in the patrol division, decades of experience, and a passion and determination to make South Bend a safe community for everyone.”
Over the course of his career, Leszczynski served as a patrol officer, DARE officer, field training officer and emergency vehicle operations course instructor and oversaw the Pursuit Review Committee. He rose through the ranks of the department, being promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2006, lieutenant in 2016 and captain in 2018.
According to the SBPD, one of Leszczynski's favorite parts about working for the department is helping direct traffic on Notre Dame home game weekends, especially at the intersection of Notre Dame Avenue and Angela Boulevard, where he has met new people for the past 32 years.
Department to host Prospect Day hiring event in June
Just as some, like Crittendon, are retiring after long careers with the SBPD, others' careers with the department are just beginning.
On Wednesday, the department welcomed 16 new recruits in its largest swearing-in ceremony of all time. Following the ceremony, for the first time since 2019, the department is fully staffed.
Monday, the department said it plans on continuing its "positive recruitment momentum" by holding its fifth Prospect Day hiring event. The one-day hiring event will take place Saturday, June 24 at the South Bend Police Department.
The event will allow both new recruits and laterals from other departments to test and complete the majority of the SBPD's hiring process in just one day. According to the department, although this one-day model is convenient for those with busy schedules, it does not lessen or change the requirements to become a police officer, it just expedites the test scheduling.
Those interested in the Prospect Day event must submit their application by Monday, June 19 to be considered. The application and more information on the event can be found at sbpolicejobs.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mayor Mueller appoints Leszczynski as South Bend police's patrol division chief
