Grand Rapids' New Police Chief Is Veteran Chicago Commander

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids' new police chief will be a commander of the Chicago Police Department and 20-year veteran whose served in various tactical, investigative and administrative roles, the city announced Tuesday.

Eric Winstrom is expected to take over the Grand Rapids Police Department on March 7. He replaces Chief Eric Payne, who is set to retire March 4.

City Manager Mark Washington will formally introduce Winstrom at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The announcement will air on Comcast Channel 26 and can be livestreamed on the City of Grand Rapids Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Winstrom was selected following what the city called an exhaustive national search, interview process and community engagement period. Senior law enforcemnt officials across the country expressed interest in taking over the police department, which serves Michigan's second-largest city. The search was narrowed down to three finalists, who each completed a series of six interview panels with dozens of members of the community, as well as a public forum that received more than 4,000 views.

“The City is fortunate to hire someone as qualified and talented as Eric Winstrom to serve as our next police chief who is a certified law enforcement officer and attorney," Washington said in a statement. "I look forward to working with him to continue to advance policing and to continue our journey to strengthen trust between the community and our police department."

Washington called Winstrom an "ideal" candidate to help the department achieve the goals established for the department and the community. Representatives from the Chicago Police Department and community leaders praised Winstrom's ability to "effectively lead officers as well as help all community members," Washington said.

"He was frequently praised for going above expectations and often working unceasingly for justice and improving community," he said.

Winstrom said he's eager to get started and continue the department’s community policing.

"I am prepared to bring my significant experience in leadership and organizational improvement, tireless work ethic, high-energy and knowledge to lead the Grand Rapids Police Department," Winstrom said. "I am very optimistic that we can work together to make the city a safer place and become the most trusted police department in the country."

Winstrom said he's committed to police officer training and ensuring they're spending time making a positive impact.

"I intend to do everything possible to continue to make Grand Rapids one of the safest cities in the country and build community trust to ensure all people feel safe and are safe at all times throughout our community," he said.

Winstrom last served as an executive on Chicago police's leadership team, and led the a detective unit, overseeing about 200 staffers, including 40 homicide investigators. The detective unit covered about one-fifth of Chicago, including the city's Northwest Side and O'Hare Airport.

Previously, Winstrom tought at the Chicago Police Academy, headed the Chicago police department's child sex crimes investigation unit, and served as a supervising attorney in the legal affairs division. He also helped create the office of reform management, oversaw policies and procedures for the Chicago police department, and served as captain of a 400-person district station.

Winstrom earned a bachelor's of science degree in administration of justice from Rutgers University and a juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and is recognized as a court expert on police policy, use of force, criminal investigations and the Fourth Amendment.