Lansing residents should feel good about the appointment of Capt. Teresa Szymanski to be the police department’s interim chief in the wake of the retirement of Chief Mark Alley.
During the past several years she has been very accessible to the concerns and needs of our southwest side neighborhood when their have been flareups of criminal activity. She was at neighborhood meetings where she listened and responded.
She’s a leader with a command presence that reminds you of Army officers who graduated from West Point. You know when they walk into a room and you know that they have the competence to lead and to get the job done in difficult situations.
The city of Lansing has entered into challenging times where city revenues are dropping and where these declines are affecting the police department. It’s going to take a special person to lead one of the city’s most important departments.
I can think of no better person than Capt. Szymanki.
If she wants the permanent position, I would hope that she would be put at the top of the list.
Links:
- The Lansing State Journal on the Szymanski appointment.
