'In a transition': Captain Bret Fisher sworn in as new Lebanon Police chief, Sims new captain

The new leadership at the Lebanon City Police office is still in transition, but the new chief says reaching out to the community is one of his top goals.

Former police Captain Bret Fisher was sworn in as the new Lebanon City Police chief Friday. Fisher has been the acting police chief since former chief Todd Breiner retired in October. Lt. Eric Sims was also promoted Friday as captain of the department.

Moving forward, Fisher's goals include more community outreach and filling the department's ranks.

"The most valuable time I've spent here at the Lebanon City Police Department was the 15 years I spent on patrol," he said. "I believe in just some fundamental policing that involves regular patrol, getting out into the community and trying to move forward with a little more community engagement would come a long way. Change is often slow, but we'll start with that."

Employed with the Lebanon City Police Department for 25 years, Fisher started as a patrol officer in 1998. In 2002, he volunteered for the K-9 unit, partnering with three different K-9s and receiving the 2003 police officer of the year award by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 42. In 2005, he was assigned to the drug task force, and in January 2013 was assigned to the criminal division as a detective. He was promoted to captain in June 2021.

At least one day a week, Fisher said he tries to walk downtown, stop into the stores and meet other people. It is this type of policing he hopes to instill in his officers moving forward.

With officers still recovering from the Lt. William Lebo shooting incident and rising staffing concerns, Mayor Sherry Capello said it's going to take a "father figure" to lead the department going forward.

"I've been watching (Fisher) over the last three months, and he's been able to demonstrate the qualities that I feel are necessary to move the department forward, heal and grow," she said. "I feel confident he'll be able to do that."

Capello added she did not consider any candidates outside of the department.

On March 31, Lebo, Officer Derek Underkoffler, Officer Ryan Adams, and Officer Kris McCarrick were responding to a domestic disturbance report. Lebo died in a shootout with a man who had broken into a home on the 1100 block of Forest Street.

Lebo had more than 40 years of service and was 30 days from retirement. Underkoffler and Adams have not returned to work as of Friday, according to Capello.

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"Since Lt. William Lebo was killed in the line of duty, Lebanon City Police Department has been in a transition," Fisher said. "That transition takes a long, long, long time. I have one officer that has been on the force 37 years. I have some that have been on a few months. It'll take years."

Fisher said his door is open for officers still dealing with the loss of Lebo, and that all officers will still get any help or counseling that they need.

Serving the department for 17 years, Sims was hired as a patrol officer in 2006. He received an award of commendation in 2019 for his role as a supervisor when one of his officers heard shots fired. Sims directed officers while personally involved in a pursuit of the suspects, which lead to their arrest.

"Some of my priorities is to make sure our training is on point," he said. "I want to try and do everything possible for the patrol guys and the detectives so they can be successful. So I want to facilitate all that stuff for them so that makes their job easier."

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Officials are still looking for officers to fill its 41 police complement. Capello said officials made changes, including a 12-hour shift schedule and applying for grants, to help with recruitment and retention of officers. Officials are also looking for ways to include more diversity in their ranks, including candidates who speak Spanish.

"We are always trying to hire police officers," Fisher said. "We welcome everybody who applies, regardless of race, religion and sexual orientation. I invite everybody to please come apply to the Lebanon Police Department, and we'll try to get you on the force."

Fisher added the department is still re-assessing the hiring process and the benefits to try and attract new officers.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Bret Fisher sworn in as new Lebanon Police chief, Sims new Captain