The Town of Greeneville announces the retirement of Police Chief Tim Ward after 33 years of service. Ward communicated to Town officials that his last official day will be April 1st. City Administrator, Todd Smith, is beginning an immediate search for Ward’s replacement.
Smith stated in a message to Town department heads, “When you see Chief Ward, please congratulate him on a great career leaving a long legacy in Greeneville. I will be conducting a search for both internal and external candidates. In the meantime, starting April 1st, Steve Spano will be the Interim Chief until a permanent replacement is found. Please give Steve all of your support and assistance as he makes this transition.”
In Ward’s legacy career, he has served as an administrative captain, patrol captain, detective lieutenant, SWAT and Special Response Team commander, narcotics agent, and patrol officer. He joined the town in September 1990 as a patrol officer. He worked his way up through the ranks, being sworn in as Chief July 2018. At that time, Ward was chosen for his integrity, positive attitude, leadership skills, and strong community focus.
In speaking with Ward this week, he recounts his 33 years with the Town as rewarding and ensures that his community focus is still intact. Though retiring from the police force, he is not done giving back to the Greeneville community. In fact, he already has some plans of how he wants to do that in the near future.
On the walls of his office, there are photos of former Greeneville police officers everywhere. When asked about the photos, Ward stated, “These weren’t here five years ago. We dug these out of closets, framed them, and hung them up. I felt it was important.” Ward has made it a point to honor those who have come before him and the history of the department. A set of framed memorial photos hang in the department hallway and treasured objects from the past line shelves as a miniature museum.
The Town of Greeneville would like to thank Chief Ward for his service, dedication, and commitment. The community is invited to a retirement reception honoring him at the Town of Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, March 21st.