Clinton chooses homegrown Addison as next police chief

The City of Clinton looked toward home to find its next police chief, announcing the hire of former Clinton native Michael Addison to fill the role left open due to the retirement of former chief Sonny Ledda.

Addison, a 22-year veteran of the CPD, worked his way up the ranks to captain in the department he now has been hired to lead.

“I’m humbled and honored to be chosen,” Addison said. “It’s a big step for the city and a big step for me. I look forward to serving the community.”

He also said he believes his connection with the community is a positive. Other than a stint in the U.S. military, his professional career has been spent in Clinton.

“I’ve grown up here and committed my entire career here. I want the city to be great, and I’m honored to be a part of that,” said Addison.

Clinton City Manager Tom Brooks said Addison’s reactions and leadership in the aftermath of a devastating fire that destroyed part of Clinton’s downtown business district on Aug. 27 and in the wake of Hurricane Helene two weeks ago swayed his decision to promote Addison.

“After working along with law enforcement 20 years and specifically with Michael last two-and-half years he’s stepped up, and he’s the leader I think Clinton needs as the new police chief.

“Really during our time of crisis, Micheal was able to step in as a leader during the storm and that really stood out in my decision-making.”

Addison said he just did anything he could to help when those tragic events occurred a month apart in Clinton.

“I was just doing what had to be done at the time,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just knowing people in the community and knowing who to contact. Sometimes it’s just time to get to work – not thinking about a title or anything. It’s just time to go to work.”

Clinton Mayor Randy Randall said Addison has “been a good policeman and a good leader.”

Randall said he has known Addison and his family since Addison’s childhood and is pleased to see him rise to the top of the department.

“It’s kind of neat that (Laurens Police Chief) Heath Copeland and Michael are the chiefs in Laurens and Clinton because they both grew up there,” Randall said.

Addison said he has taken something from every chief he has worked under in Clinton over the past 22 years as well as others he has worked with along the way as he served as both a police officer and a firefighter.

“I’ve learned about leadershiop, starting at 17 when I joined the military,” he said. “I’ve gotten benefits from working for a lot of great people and unfortunate benefits from working with a few that weren’t so great, but I learned from all of them. That’s what I’ve tried to do.”