New Police Chief, City Administrator Named in Town and Country

UPDATED: 4 p.m., Thursday-

As previously reported by Patch,  

(Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.)

While Copeland served as both the city's police chief and city administrator, city leaders have decided what was once a dual role, will now return to two separate positions.

Thursday, Police Captain Gary Hoelzer was named as the city's new city administrator and Police Captain Patrick Kranz was named as police chief.

The appointments take affect immediately.

Both men not only have long-standing careers with the city, but also in law enforcement, and have essentially worked for the Town and Country Police Department since its inception in 1983.

Hoelzer, who began his career with Town and Country 28 years ago as a patrol officer, tells Patch law enforcement was a "calling" for him and admits the move out of that field will be an adjustment. However, he said teamwork has always been the key to the success of the city as a whole, and the police department, and he is looking forward to continuing to lead the city in a direction of progress and improvement.

"I have been very privileged to serve the City of Town and Country as a police officer since 1985 and I look forward to new opportunities and challenges as City Administrator," Hoelzer stated in an email to Patch. "I and the rest of our great staff are dedicated to the City’s mission of maintaining an environment of hospitality and fostering our sense of community; while upholding the values of integrity, respect, security and fiscal responsibility."

Kranz, who began working for the Town and Country Police Department 27 years ago as a patrol officer, shares Hoelzer's sentiment for teamwork being the secret to success in the city.

"I was extremely honored. I can't stress that enough," Kranz tells Patch. He said he especially appreciates the confidence in him shown by the mayor and aldermen with this promotion. "It really means a lot."

Kranz also pointed out that he and Hoelzer have worked directly under Copeland for quite some time, and have worked to help pave the road for the current direction of the city over the last few years.

"I think my job will be easy. We've got a great group of people working for us and we've just got to follow that road," explained.

He said there will a "lot of transition" and his first order of business will be making changes as far as the structure of the police department.

"We've got some department reorganization to do. I think there's going to be a different structure here," Kranz said. Prior to Thursday's promotions, both Kranz and Hoelzer served as 'captains' under the chief of police. "Probably eliminating the 'captain' ranking and going straight from the 'lieutenant' to 'chief."

(Check back to Town and Country - Manchester Patch today for updates and next week for more on Hoelzer and Kranz.)

The promotion decisions were made by Mayor Jon Dalton, with the consent of the aldermen, during closed meetings.

Patch has reached out to Dalton for a comment on his decisions.

Alderman Skip Mange tells Patch that when Copeland took over the city administrator role in 2004, the city felt he still needed to remain as police chief, but it is time to return to two people serving in the two positions.

"You really need a city administrator whose sole responsibility is the administrative side. We have a lot going on here, we need an administrator," Alderman Skip Mange tells Patch. "The police chief needs to be concentrating on the police force."

*Check back to Town and Country - Manchester Patch next week for more on Town and Country's two newest leaders.

READ PREVIOUS STORIES:

Town and Country Police Chief John Copeland Retiring

Town and Country Police Chief Reflects on Nearly 30 Years of Service