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Laurens council hires Cofield as first female chief of Laurens Police Department

After less than a week as acting chief of police, Chrissie Cofield was named as the chief of the Laurens Police Department. The hire was announced Tuesday after a very short executive session at Laurens City Council’s regular meeting.

“Chrissie Cofield is your new chief,” said Mayor John Stankus, and several visitors in the audience clapped and cheered the decision.

Cofield was at home and Stankus said he called her to let her know just a moment before council chambers were re-opened.

“We weren’t going to drag it out when we knew we had the person we wanted,” Stankus said. “She is greatly qualified, and, as of a few minutes ago, she has assumed her duties. She has a lot of work to do, and she will need a lot of support. But her resume is super, and I know she has a tremendous work ethic.”

Stankus said he allowed Cofield to take a long-planned trip this weekend as the vacation had already been planned.

“I am excited, and I am humbled to lead the men and women of Laurens Police Department,” Cofield said soon after the meeting adjourned. “I felt like I was ready for the challenge.”

Cofield’s experience includes 14 years in the military, first as an active-duty military police officer and then in reserves as a chemical specialist.

“Other than the year I spent at SLED, I’ve been at Laurens for almost 19 years,” she said. “In fact, Oct. 19 will be 19 years here. I’ve had some great leaders in my time, and they have instilled that desire to be a good leader into me.”

Cofield said she will sit down with the mayor and plan any needed adjustments, but she doesn’t think that will need to be done immediately.

“Right now, we will stay the course and continue to operate as we were when Chief (Sonny) Ledda left Friday and to continue the level of service that our city and Laurens County have been accustomed to,” Cofield said.

Ledda resigned two weeks ago to take over as chief of police for the City of Clinton.

As to being the first female Chief of Police for the City of Laurens, Cofield said that also has definitely occurred to her.

“I wish I had done the research to see how many female chiefs of police or sheriffs there are in South Carolina but I didn’t,” Cofield said. “But I am honored to be one of the few.”

7 Comments

  1. Gail Bouknight. Baldwins on October 16, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    Congratulations Christie, we are proud, love ya girl

  2. Sarah JPulley on October 16, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    You’re awesome CHRISSIE and I know you will remain Awesome in all that you do.

  3. Angela Reid on October 17, 2018 at 8:35 am

    Congratulations!!

  4. Sherry on October 17, 2018 at 11:49 am

    Congratulations Chrissie! #Girlsrule

  5. Eva Young Reid on October 17, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    I am so proud of my home state and home county. Congratulations Miss Cofield and may God continue to bless you.

  6. John Rutledge on October 18, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Congratulations….well deserved.

  7. Henry Davis Jr on November 3, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY IN WORKERS RIGHTS TO BE HIRED. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LET’S SPREAD THE WORD THE DESIRE AND THE JUSTICE. IT’S TIME THESE MAJOR COMPANIES GET RID OF THE CONVICTION BOXES ON APPLICATIONS!
    How many individuals AND families out there are struggling to make ends meet just because our idiot government hands out information to companies that allows companies to fully discriminate against people with records to not hire them in companies whereas background checks shouldn’t be allowed. How many have watched friend suffer from these unfair hiring practices? It’s time this practice is eliminated. If your company doesn’t care for kids or elderly, you need no background check box on your application. Stand for the workers rights Laurens County. Let’s be the leader in South Carolina eliminating these incredibly destructive hiring practices. Please support this issue and let’s drive it to the statehouse in Columbia. Something has to be done regarding this issue and the time is now. Who’s with us?

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