Sunbury Police Chief Pat Bennett plans to retire early next year.

During the Aug. 3 Village Council meeting, Mayor Tommy Hatfield reported that Hatfield said he has contacted the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police about assistance in hiring Bennett’s replacement.

“They will be at the next meeting,” Hatfield said. “They will assess applicants and then come back with a short list. It would be a $5,000 to $7,000 project from cradle to grave.”

“Chief Bennett has put in a long career with the village,” Hatfield added. “His heart has always been in it. He’s somebody who grew up here. It will be an exciting time to bring somebody in who will take Sunbury to the next level as we continue to grow.”

Hatfield also encouraged council members to think about starting the process of forming a charter form of government.

Sunbury becomes a city when its population reaches 5,000 residents on an official census. The village recently exceeded the 5,000 mark, and the 2020 census is four years away.

“City status is like a train that’s coming down the track at us,” Hatfield said.

Sunbury Police Chief Pat Bennett has always been a visible and accessible member of the community he serves. During last week’s Sunbury Village Council meeting, Mayor Tommy Hatfield reported that Bennett plans to retire early next year. “Chief Bennett has put in a long career with the village,” Hatfield said. “His heart has always been in it. He’s somebody who grew up here.”

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/08/web1_Bennett.4th.2014.a.jpg Sunbury Police Chief Pat Bennett has always been a visible and accessible member of the community he serves. During last week’s Sunbury Village Council meeting, Mayor Tommy Hatfield reported that Bennett plans to retire early next year. “Chief Bennett has put in a long career with the village,” Hatfield said. “His heart has always been in it. He’s somebody who grew up here.”