Hill rises to police chief in Granville
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GRANVILLE - Brian Hill got up Wednesday morning, put on his Granville police uniform and went in to work just like he did Tuesday morning.
The only difference was his new title. He went from deputy chief to chief.
At Tuesday evening's Granville Town Council meeting, Mayor Patricia Lewis swore-in Hill as the town's police chief. He replaces former Chief Craig Corkrean, who retired earlier this month after 16 years leading the Granville Police Department. Corkrean retired to teach courses in the Fairmont State University public safety program.
Hill said Thursday he has no plans for big changes in the department, praising Corkrean for his leadership.
"We've had a lot of growth with technology and staffing under Chief Corkrean," Hill said. "I plan to just continue his tradition and make no big changes. We are going to continue what we are doing and try to make things go as smoothly as possible for everyone going to the [University Town Centre] and our residents. And, we'll be here to help out the county."
Hill, a native of the Elkins area, has been a police officer with Granville PD for 19 years, moving up the ranks. He was deputy chief for a year and prior to that was a lieutenant for 10 years.
The first law enforcement officer in his family, he came to Monongalia County in 1999 and spent five years answering emergency calls at the Monongalia County Emergency Management - MEECA 911 - center.
"I think that's where I got the desire to do something different than sit behind a screen and answer phones," Hill said.
Fourteen officers work under Hill now, but he hopes to raise that to 17.
During a previous town council meeting, then-Chief Corkrean told council eight or nine individuals tested for open positions in the Granville Police Department. He said some are already certified officers.
Prior to swearing-in Hill, Mayor Lewis praised the new chief.
"You've been with the town now for nearly 20 years. During that time, you walked alongside us through significant growth and change, quietly and consistently helping our police department evolve from a single police officer to a department of 15 dedicated professionals," Lewis said.
"As deputy chief, you've helped lead our police department with professionalism, integrity and an unwavering commitment to public safety. You've always made the safety of our employees, our residents and the thousands of visitors who come through Granville and University Town Centre one of your highest priorities."
Hill said Lewis approached him a few weeks ago - after Corkrean put in his retirement notice - to ask if he'd be interested in the chief position. He said rising to that level was never in his plans, but he realized it was something he needed to think about.
Just like he doesn't plan to change the operating procedures of the department, he doesn't plan to change what he does day-to-day.
"I'll be doing the same things," he said. "I'll just have the final say, but I'll be coming to work wearing the same uniform as my officers and answering the same calls they do."
Several of those officers attended Hill's swearing-in ceremony, and that made the chief proud.
"It gives me a lot of confidence that they have the confidence in me," Hill said. "It makes me realize they like who I am and what I do."
He also praised his staff, saying he has a great group of men and women who make his job easier.
Lewis said she also has confidence in Hill to continue leading the department in the right direction.