Police chief retiring

After almost exactly three years to the day in the role, Painesville Police Chief Anthony Powalie is retiring.

In a June 16 email to Painesville administrators, Powalie wrote:

“Please allow this email to serve as my official notice of my retirement. I have 27 years in law enforcement and have gave everything I have to this noble profession. My family and I have made this decision and we feel very comfortable with it. It has been an honor to serve this great community and hope to see it get even better. I have requested my paperwork and my hope is to have a tenative (sic) retirement date for you soon. The estimate would be 30 days.

Painesville City Manager Monica Irelan said after meeting with the state pension board,

Powalie decided June 25 would be his last day.

Powalie took over as Painesville Police Chief on June 28, 2014, replacing the retiring Troy Hager (who now serves as Perry Village’s police chief). He was with the Painesville Police Department since 1997.

In a June 16 email sent

to police staff, Powalie explained why he decided to retire.

“Every thing you have to do as chief takes its toll,” he wrote. “For example, every employee who sits across from me and is facing discipline or an employee who hears me tell them they cannot work here anymore chips away at me. Especially when that employee was a friend.”

A chief’s duty is to do the right thing, he wrote.

“I have always done what I believe is the right thing whether it was popular or not,” he said. “Popularity nor any individuals wants should ever dictate a decision.”

“I compare the job of a chief to an engine,” he added.

“Fuel goes in and fuel burns out. The fuel that goes in are good things like award ceremonies for officers, receiving grants, obvious increased community

support, purchasing new equipment and the like. These things keep you moving forward.”

He said they “were able to accomplish so much” in the three years he was chief, citing new guns,increased/ professional training, a newer vehicle fleet than most county agencies and restructuring the agency among other things.

The list of accomplishments “fueled the engine,” he wrote.

“With that being said, this past week I watched a video where a male with obvious mental health issues slandered me, and made threatening comments towards city administration and myself. From Myrtle Beach I had to request an extra watch on my house and worry about my family every time they left the house and I found myself getting low on fuel.

“I realized that money is not worth stress, health issues

and worry for my family so we decided it was time to retire.”

Painesville Lt. Dan Waterman will serve as the acting police chief. Per the city’s policy, the next chief must be promoted from within the department.

Irelan said she does not yet know when a permanent replacement will be named, but is making sure they are following all formal processes and procedures.

Powalie