The City of St. Johns and the St. Johns Police Department (SJPD) are pleased to welcome Andrew Tobias, who has been selected to fill the department’s newly created deputy chief position.
City Clerk Mindy Seavey administered the oath of office to Tobias today, Mon. May 15, making the move official.
Deputy Chief Tobias is a veteran officer with more than 24 years of upwardly mobile law enforcement and leadership experience. Tobias served the Meridian Township Police Department for 21 years – most recently as sergeant. He achieved Master Police Officer designation in 2017 and has excelled in a variety of positions including police cadet program supervisor, field training officer, and K-9 officer to name a few. He is also recognized for his work integrating police K9 into the special response team’s tactical operations.
St. Johns Police Chief David Kirk shares, “In a time when law enforcement agencies have some tough issues to navigate, the addition of someone of Andrew’s quality creates a great deal of optimism.”
We are incredibly excited to have him on board as we continue to improve the department and address priorities in the community.
St. Johns Police Chief David Kirk
The deputy chief position was created to add specific skillsets, talents and experience to the force. “The executive team took great care and committed a significant amount of time to identify the characteristics of the ‘ideal candidate’ for this role based on the department’s recognized needs,” explains Kirk. “There are operational components, both investigative and patrol-based, and also administrative duties that relate to aligning our processes through assessment and development.”
During the interview and selection process, city staff partnered with law enforcement administrators who have deep experience assessing law enforcement candidates’ job knowledge and how their strengths match up to specific needs. In the end, Tobias was unanimously selected by the panel as the best match for the uniquely structured title.
“Andrew’s wealth of knowledge and operational experience checks all the boxes, and he’s willing to wear many hats,” explains Kirk. “He has an incredibly positive outlook, and a great record for mentoring and developing staff. The opportunity to partner with him to move our department forward is exciting on all levels.”
The City of St. Johns, Michigan is a historic community founded in 1856. Known as the Mint City due to its unique agricultural heritage, St. Johns honors its roots while also planting the seeds for thriving small businesses and industry hubs. The best of both worlds, the city offers a charming, small-town feel with an easy commute to downtown Lansing. St. Johns serves as the Clinton County seat and provides a full range of municipal services to about 8,000 residents. Learn more at cityofstjohnsmi.com.
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