Township names new police chief
Bruce Wade appointed to lead department
Sixteen days after the death of former Clinton Township Police Chief Fred Posavetz, a new leader for the police department was sworn in.
Bruce Wade became the township’s fifth police chief during a brief ceremony held before about 100 family members, friends, police officers and township employees at George George Memorial Park on Moravian Drive.
“Fred Posavetz was a good man, and we’re getting another good man to fill in and pick up
where he left off,” Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon told the crowd.
Wade, 64, a 37-year veteran of the department, told reporters he regrets the circumstances that led to his promotion, but added the department must carry forward with its mission to protect the community’s residents and businesses.
“This is a new beginning,” he said. “The department is ready to accomplish a few new things. Hopefully, that starts now.”
Wade started his law enforcement career in 1984 as a dispatcher after graduating from the Macomb Police Academy. He then went on to become a road patrol officer before he was promoted to sergeant and then worked in the drug unit for four years.
Over the years, he became a lieutenant in the road patrol and investigations divisions before becoming a captain.
“I’d have to say, I’ve done every job in the building,” Wade said.
Wade thanked those in attendance, including his wife, Elizabeth, son Jack and uncle, former Clinton Township treasurer Robert Steiner, who was present.
The new chief said much of his focus will be on preparing the department to receive its first accreditation assessment, a new process that is tied to funding for law enforcement agencies in Michigan. It’s a lengthy process which requires the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission to perform an onsite assessment of the department’s policies and procedures, management operations and support services.
But Wade likely won’t have time to see the accreditation process. Under the township’s Civil Service rules, he is required to retire when he turns 65 in October. Two current lieutenants are expected to take promotional exams to see who will take the rank of captain vacated by Wade’s promotion. One of them are expected to be named chief upon Wade’s anticipated retirement.
Wade, talking about the pending retirements and promotions, said having five chiefs in the department’s past 50 years is “not normal.”
“That says a lot about our department and the people we have here,” he said.
He said he and Posavetz were close and, along with Capt. Richard Maierle, would meet every morning to review incidents from the night before and plan for they day’s events.
“We have a great group of men and women at the Clinton Township Police Department, and I’m hoping to take them to another level,” Wade said.
The late Fred Posavetz, who spent more than 40 years working for Clinton Township’s Police Department, died unexpectedly March 22 in a hospital from COVID-19 complications. He was 64 and had planned to retire in June.
Cannon, the township supervisor, said everyone was caught off guard by Posavetz’s passing because “he was in perfect health, near-peak physical condition.”
His two sons, Eric and Ryan, are both Clinton Township police officers and attended Wade’s promotion ceremony.