The City of Greenwood this week named its next top law enforcement officer, his name recognizable throughout the county.
James Ison, now a deputy chief who’s been with the Greenwood Police Department for two decades, was tapped to be the city’s next police chief, replacing John Laut, who will retire Aug. 28 after more than three decades.
Ison started his career with the Greenwood Police Department in high school. He participated in the department’s internship program which allowed high school students to go on bike patrols to learn about policing in the city, Ison recalled.
"I worked my way up from an intern in high school to the chief. It’s something that is very special and dear to me," said Ison, who added that he’s "honored and proud."
"It’s an awesome responsibility being in charge of the safety of a city of nearly 60,000 people, and to be trusted with that responsibility by the mayor and other members of this agency is very humbling," Ison said.
Ison studied criminal justice at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, and served on the police department there. He was hired in 2001 as a patrol officer for the Greenwood Police Department. Over the years, he rose through the ranks. He was promoted to deputy chief in 2015.
Becoming chief has always been his goal, and now is a great time to take the reins, Ison said. Most Greenwood police officers are young, with about 35 new officers hired in the last five years, leaving plenty of room for growth, he said.
Police chief is the top leadership position on the force of 79 patrol officers, assistant chiefs, sergeants and lieutenants, and earns about $90,000 a year, according to a state database of public employee salaries. The chief manages a nearly $7 million budget.
Read more of this story in Thursday’s Daily Journal.
