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Do IT this week: Layering
Gus Hall sworn in temporarily; Plusquellic searching for a permanent hire
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:20 p.m. EST, Nov 30, 2009
Gus Hall was sworn in today as the 14th chief of the Akron Police Department.
Hall, 55, was a major and commander of the department's uniform patrol subdivision.
Mayor Don Plusquellic administered the oath of office at a ceremony in the roll call room on the fourth floor of police headquarters in downtown Akron.
Plusquellic said he is naming Hall as ''provisional chief of police.''
Later, the mayor said he was in the early stages of what previously had been described as a nationwide search for a new chief. He declined to elaborate.
Hall succeeds the man he called his ''best friend and first partner,'' Craig Gilbride, who retired today after 32 years of service — the last 11 months as chief.
Gilbride pinned the gold chief's shield on the left side of Hall's broad chest, and they shook hands and exchanged a warm embrace to applause from about 40 fellow officers, friends and family members of the two commanders.
The moment clearly touched Hall as he began his remarks.
''This is truly an honor,'' he said. ''I can't think of anybody's shoes that I'd rather fill than my best friend, Craig Gilbride. He's been the mentor throughout my career.
''He broke me in. He was my first partner. We've laughed together, cried together, bled together and we watched each other's children grow up.''
Hall noted that he and Gilbride slowly rose together through the ranks, from sergeant, to lieutenant, to captain, to major — the second-highest rank as one of the department's deputy chiefs.
''The only thing we didn't do together,'' Hall quipped, ''was that he went to St. V. [St. Vincent-St. Mary High School] and I went to Hoban. I don't know if he was smart enough to pass the entrance exam there.''
Hall, a former commander of the department's services subdivision, said his immediate goal will be ''to try to maintain the services we have with less money in today's economy.''
''I think we're up to the task,'' he said.
''We can go out there every day, each one of us, and be a community officer to get the support of the community. That's a key, I think, in my mind.''
Hall said he would support the mayor's efforts to go outside the department for a new chief and would not consider seeking the top position ''at this time.''
''I've got 29 years on the Police Department,'' Hall said, ''and I'm getting close to the end of my career. I can't foresee myself staying for more than a year or two.''
He said he would be willing to stay on and help during a transitional period once the mayor names a permanent chief.
Hall acknowledged that his emotions were difficult to overcome after Gilbride pinned on the gold shield, calling the honor ''overwhelming'' and ''humbling.''
He said he meant it when he described the times, as young officers, when he and Gilbride bled together.
''We were involved in a lot of resisting arrests when we were patrolmen together, which is not unusual for any police officer who's worked the streets,'' Hall said.
''It would be a wonderful world if you could talk every single person into getting into the back of a paddy wagon, but that's not the case.''
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Gus Hall was sworn in today as the 14th chief of the Akron Police Department.
Hall, 55, was a major and commander of the department's uniform patrol subdivision.
Mayor Don Plusquellic administered the oath of office at a ceremony in the roll call room on the fourth floor of police headquarters in downtown Akron.
Plusquellic said he is naming Hall as ''provisional chief of police.''
Later, the mayor said he was in the early stages of what previously had been described as a nationwide search for a new chief. He declined to elaborate.
Hall succeeds the man he called his ''best friend and first partner,'' Craig Gilbride, who retired today after 32 years of service — the last 11 months as chief.
Gilbride pinned the gold chief's shield on the left side of Hall's broad chest, and they shook hands and exchanged a warm embrace to applause from about 40 fellow officers, friends and family members of the two commanders.
The moment clearly touched Hall as he began his remarks.
''This is truly an honor,'' he said. ''I can't think of anybody's shoes that I'd rather fill than my best friend, Craig Gilbride. He's been the mentor throughout my career.
''He broke me in. He was my first partner. We've laughed together, cried together, bled together and we watched each other's children grow up.''
Hall noted that he and Gilbride slowly rose together through the ranks, from sergeant, to lieutenant, to captain, to major — the second-highest rank as one of the department's deputy chiefs.
''The only thing we didn't do together,'' Hall quipped, ''was that he went to St. V. [St. Vincent-St. Mary High School] and I went to Hoban. I don't know if he was smart enough to pass the entrance exam there.''
Hall, a former commander of the department's services subdivision, said his immediate goal will be ''to try to maintain the services we have with less money in today's economy.''
''I think we're up to the task,'' he said.
''We can go out there every day, each one of us, and be a community officer to get the support of the community. That's a key, I think, in my mind.''
Hall said he would support the mayor's efforts to go outside the department for a new chief and would not consider seeking the top position ''at this time.''
''I've got 29 years on the Police Department,'' Hall said, ''and I'm getting close to the end of my career. I can't foresee myself staying for more than a year or two.''
He said he would be willing to stay on and help during a transitional period once the mayor names a permanent chief.
Hall acknowledged that his emotions were difficult to overcome after Gilbride pinned on the gold shield, calling the honor ''overwhelming'' and ''humbling.''
He said he meant it when he described the times, as young officers, when he and Gilbride bled together.
''We were involved in a lot of resisting arrests when we were patrolmen together, which is not unusual for any police officer who's worked the streets,'' Hall said.
''It would be a wonderful world if you could talk every single person into getting into the back of a paddy wagon, but that's not the case.''
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 08:41 PM, 11/30/2009
Cronyism ??????????
Akron, OH
Posted 08:43 PM, 11/30/2009
Best of luck, Chief!
I would prefer you stick around for awhile, Lord knows, we Akronites could use some consistency in the "Chief of Police" department. Still, I understand. You put your time in. You deserve your well-earned retirement. I might do as well.
Still we need you to stick around for a little while.
:0)
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:58 PM, 11/30/2009
Oh no Slovensko, they appointed a high ranking Akron police officer as the temporary chief as they search for a pernament replacement--call the ACLU, our civil rights have been violated! Cronyism would be Marco Summerville appointing his friend the position because he lost his job at Chrystler.
Posted 10:07 PM, 11/30/2009
I knew Gus in the 6th grade!! Glad to hear he's doing so well!
akron, oh
Posted 07:26 AM, 12/01/2009
Congratulations Gus.
Posted 07:35 AM, 12/01/2009
Ummm why not pick a younger person who will stay in office for awhile and has fresh ideas.
Posted 08:38 AM, 12/01/2009
Gus Hall ran for President of The US under the communist party for decades.....good to see he finally got a leadership position he.....oh wait, wrong Gus Hall......
akron, oh
Posted 09:06 AM, 12/01/2009
Gus...May God bless you and your family, in a most difficult position.
Pay no attention to those who like to talk trash, and are too scared to get out in the streets to help.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:59 AM, 12/01/2009
Good luck Gus!! You know what you're getting into with Il Duce Don. Stand behind your troops!
uniontown, oh
Posted 11:56 AM, 12/01/2009
Only 14 Police Chiefs in the history of Akron. I didn't know that. Cleveland gets about three or four a year. Nice job Akron. Lets hope that the Mayor still promotes from with in the ranks. What good would an outsider do for us? Good luck.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:08 PM, 12/01/2009
Congratulations Gus.
I'm glad to see you stuck it out and finally got the position you well deserve.
I know your up to the task and will deliver the best service you can in these tough economic times.
I can't think of a better choice for the job as Chief than Gus Hall.
akron, oh
Posted 03:50 PM, 12/01/2009
Congratulations Gus you have worked hard and are well deserved of this position. You are the finest and most caring person I have ever known in my lifetime. Akron Police Dept should be most proud to have you as their new leader. I know I am very proud of you and what you have accomplished in every way and very proud to be able to say thats my brotherinlaw. Love you man.
Akron, oh
Posted 08:36 PM, 12/01/2009
Congratulatrions Gus I'm sure you will do much better than Matulivich.
Remember watch your back. Sommerville & Plusquellic got a new knife set
Posted 11:15 PM, 12/01/2009
Chief Hall, be an advocate for your men and women and not a suck-arse to our POS mayor and council.
Minerva, Oh
Posted 07:14 AM, 12/02/2009
I am glad they appointed a progressve minded person to be the head of the APD. When I was interviewed to become a police officer(many years ago )the chief was Harry W. He asked me during the interview "if I would mind too much, to have to work with a colored policemen". A couple yrs. later I was assigned to work with officer Donny W. My shift commnder came up to me and apologized to me-saying he ws sorry but he wasn't the one who did this.
Donny and I became good friends and partners. The dfference in skin color, made no matter.
