Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has tapped Robert Clark, a former FBI agent who led operations at the Los Angeles field office, to serve as the city鈥檚 next director of public safety.
Clark is a Youngstown native with 35 years of experience in law enforcement. He initially applied to be the city鈥檚 police chief, but now he鈥檒l serve in a role overseeing the divisions of police and fire.
He acknowledges there鈥檚 work to do building trust between public officials and the community, but he said he found success strengthening those relationships while he was posted in Los Angeles.
鈥淚 directly led with an amazing team, an effort to change the perception of how our community see law enforcement to reestablish that trust to reestablish that transparency,鈥� Clark said.
As the city navigates police reform efforts, Clark said he鈥檒l take his cues from the community.
鈥淲e understand that we are in an era now in 2021 where you cannot police beyond that which the community understands, that which the community will accept and that which the community will participate in,鈥� Clark said.
Brian Steel, vice president of the fraternal order of police, said for now he鈥檚 feeling cautiously optimistic about the mayor鈥檚 choice.
鈥淚 was initially skeptical about Chief Bryant, and I couldn鈥檛 have been more wrong, I could not be more supportive,鈥� Steel said of recently appointed police Chief Elaine Bryant. 鈥淚f he鈥檚 half the leadership that Chief Bryant鈥檚 bringing to the table then we鈥檙e on a positive trajectory in this city.鈥�
With grim figures for COVID-19 and homicides Ginther acknowledges the city is facing significant challenges, but he insists the city is laying the groundwork to 鈥渆merge even stronger,鈥� afterward.
鈥淭o do this we鈥檒l need steadfast leadership and a commitment to ongoing reform continuous improvement and community engagement at the helm of the department of public safety,鈥� Ginther said.
Clark takes over for Ned Pettus, who retired recently after a 40-plus year career serving the city, the last five of which as safety director. Clark鈥檚 first day is September 26.
