Police veteran and 2008 employee of the year Cmdr. David Swing
is the city’s new police chief effective Jan. 3.
Police veteran and 2008 employee of the year Cmdr. David Swing is the city’s new police chief effective Jan. 3.
Swing brings 15 years of experience with the Morgan Hill Police Department to his new post. He started his local law enforcement career as a reserve officer and worked his way up the ranks. He is currently commander, a position he has held since 2006.
City manager Ed Tewes appointed Swing to the position after a three-month nationwide recruitment, to which 64 applicants responded. Tewes said he selected Swing to be the city’s chief of police because of his leadership and experience – not only as an officer on the streets but on budgeting and program administration as well.
“David has demonstrated leadership in every role he has filled in the Morgan Hill Police Department,” Tewes said. “His commitment to the department and community is matched by his energy and creativity, which will be essential to enhancing public safety in the new fiscal environment.”
Illustrating Swing’s ability to meet current, and likely future, financial difficulties when it comes to administering public safety in Morgan Hill include his recent role in securing grants for the city’s G.R.E.A.T. gang education program, a grant for domestic violence services (which was renewed this year), and a “significant” reduction in MHPD’s overtime budget, according to a press release from the city manager’s office.
In addition, he created or suggested programs that have generated new revenue for the city in the face of difficult financial times in recent years, the press release said. Although those difficulties resulted in three layoffs in the police department in the past two years, Swing’s efforts prevented additional personnel reductions, city staff said.
Also illustrating Swing’s qualifications and leadership are his current assignment outside the city as an instructor at the South Bay Regional Safety Training Consortium.
For these and other efforts, Swing was named the city’s employee of the year in 2008.
City staff also described Swing, who lives in Hollister with his wife Susie and two daughters, as an active member of the community and his church. He has served as a board member of his local school district, a board member for Community Solutions and is a graduate of the Morgan Hill Leadership class of 2001.
Furthermore, he has a B.A. degree in public relations, and a Masters degree in public administration from San Jose State University, according to the press release. Earlier this year, he completed the police officer standards and training command college.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead the department and serve as a team member on the city’s executive team,” Swing said. “I look forward to working with the members of the department and community to chart the course for the future of our organization.”
Swing will fill the position formerly occupied by Bruce Cumming, who served as chief since 2004 and retired this summer. Since September, the chief’s position has been occupied on an interim basis by Dan Ortega, who retired last year as chief of police in the city of Salinas.
Ortega will remain in Morgan Hill as interim chief until Swing takes over in January.
The Morgan Hill Police Department currently employs 52 people, including 36 sworn officers plus support, dispatch and administrative staff.
Swing’s starting salary will be $160,000 per year. Cumming received a base salary of about $171,000, plus about another $30,000 in benefits and leave payouts in 2009.
