When Richard Baldwin first joined the Smyrna Police as a patrolman in 1984, the department employed seven police officers.
Smyrna’s police force, like the town it serves, has grown by leaps and bounds since then.
Baldwin, who has served as police chief for the past 13 years, now leads a department of 23 officers and seven civilian employees.
He’s also seen Smyrna grow from a town of about 4,000 residents in 1984 to one that has now surpassed the 10,000 mark.
But soon it will be someone else’s turn to lead the Smyrna Police.
The 62-year-old Baldwin, who lives in Odessa, will retire on Sept. 6.
“It’s just time to go,” he said.
Though the Smyrna police force has grown in numbers during his time with the department, Baldwin highlighted a different kind of growth – a higher level of professionalism and a higher quality of service.
“The officers we have now are the most educated, highly professional officers we’ve ever had,” he said.
Baldwin said a shift toward greater professionalism began under Chief Bill Raynor in the mid ’70s and continued under Chief Don McGinty.
“I was handed the baton by Don McGinty,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin also pointed to improvements in the recruitment and retention of officers.
He said the Smyrna Police Department no longer has a “revolving door” when it comes to employment.
“Virtually all the officers, when they come here, they come here for a career,” he said.
The Smyrna Police also added specialized units over the years, including a K-9 unit, motorcycle unit, STAR team, school resource officers, criminal investigators and drug investigators.
“It’s the people who work here that I’m most proud of,” Baldwin said. “There’s no greater gift I can give to the town than the people who are here.”
Baldwin believes the department is doing a better job than when he started, and he hopes that in five years, it will be doing better than it is now.
Baldwin’s law enforcement career
In his younger years, Baldwin didn’t always envision himself in law enforcement.
After graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School, he began attending the University of Delaware, but left for a 2-year tour in Vietnam in 1968-69.
When he got out of the Army, Baldwin went back to the University of Delaware and took up a job with the University Police out of financial need.
“As I got into it, I found I liked it,” Baldwin said. “It was a very rewarding profession. It’s something I knew the community couldn’t do without.”
Baldwin went on to serve with the City of New Castle Police for a couple years before coming to the Smyrna Police in 1984.
Baldwin said he was attracted Smyrna because of the opportunity to grow along with the department and the town.
“It was clear, even in the ’80s, that Smyrna had a lot of potential for growth,” he said.
Baldwin said the department has been fortunate over the years to take advantage of the COPS program, which helped to keep the police a little ahead of the curve.
The biggest issue on the horizon for the Smyrna Police is the planned expansion of the existing police station on Glenwood Avenue.
But it will be up to the next police chief to oversee that transition.
Baldwin said he will be finished with law enforcement when he retires, but plans to remain active in other ways. He would like to continue serving on the board of directors of the local Boys and Girls Club.
Baldwin recognized by town
Smyrna Mayor Pat Stombaugh called a press conference on Aug. 20 at Town Hall to officially announce Baldwin’s retirement.
Stombaugh said that when she was elected mayor, her first congratulatory phone call came from Chief Baldwin.
“His loyalty, integrity and service to our town is unsurpassed,” she said.
Stombaugh presented Baldwin with a proclamation recognizing his years with the Smyrna Police.
In his turn at the podium, Baldwin thanked the citizens of the town for giving him the opportunity to serve them for the past 26 years.
“Chief has really brought us from a workmanlike profession to a very professional department,” said Smyrna Police Capt. Wil Bordley. “We’re going to do our best to uphold his standards and protect the town as we move forward.”
Bordley to serve as interim chief
With Police Chief Richard Baldwin set to retire, Smyrna Town Council now faces the task of naming a replacement.
Council decided to open the position for applicants, and instructed Town Manager Dave Hugg to put in advertisements for the job.
Capt. Wil Bordley of the Smyrna Police will serve as the department’s interim police chief.
“I understand the town is practicing due diligence in making a big decision,” said Bordley. “Any time there’s a new chief, it turns a new chapter, not only for the agency but also for the town.”
Chief Baldwin gave his highest recommendation for Capt. Bordley to become Smyrna’s next police chief.
“He has the education, he has the experience, he has the communication skills, he cares about the citizens of Smyrna, and most of all he has the integrity to do the job well,” Baldwin said.
