Bennington, 58, had initially planned to retire June 1, but changed the timeframe to the end of April, Fairborn City Manager Rob Anderson said.
Credit: FILE
Credit: FILE
“Fairborn has benefitted from outstanding leadership in our police department for years and years,” Anderson said. “Terry Bennington is the latest example of our great leadership … He’s done an outstanding job.”
COVID hit shortly after he was appointed “he’s had a lot of challenges but he’s overcome all of them and he’s done just an amazing job for us in the time he’s been chief.”
Bennington started with the Fairborn Police Department in September 1988. It is the second most populated city in Greene County and home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University.
Bennington said in an email that he had “mixed emotions about retiring,” but “it is time for a new challenge and I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and grandchildren.
“I leave knowing the department is in a good place and the men and women that work here will represent themselves and the department well in the future,” he added.
Bennington was a patrol officer until 1995, and was also a tactical team member and leader. He served as a detective for three years before being promoted to sergeant. Bennington was promoted to captain in 2005, serving until he was named chief.
He earned two degrees criminal justice, including a master’s from Xavier University.
After the application deadline for Bennington’s successor, “if it’s a large number we’ll try to narrow it down to the top six or eight maybe, do some phone interviews, narrow the search,” Anderson said.
The city is “working hand in hand” with Fairborn’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, which will be involved interviews.
Because the timing of Bennington’s departure, “there will likely be an overlap,” Anderson said.
“I haven’t decided how we’ll do an interim designation. I will likely make that decision within the next week or so,” he added.
The position will include an annually salary ranging from $95,576 to $135,116, the job posting states.
The police department includes three captains, seven sergeants, seven detectives, three school resource/DARE officers and 29 patrol officers, records show.
The position also oversees a 911 communications center that has an authorized strength of 13, dispatching for police, fire and EMS.
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