(4/14) After an exhausting vetting process, Jeffrey Partridge was nominated by Mayor Bradley Wantz to be the new City’s Chief of Police, replacing acting chief Major Robert Mitchell, who was appointed following the resignation of Former Police Chief Jason Etzler on November 2nd.
The City Council unanimously approved Partridge’s nomination at their April 10th council meeting. Following their vote, Partridge was sworn in.
The city received 15 resumes of people seeking to fill the position, of that, the selection committee narrowed it down to six candidates who where interviewed. The committee was made up representatives from the City Government, including Mayor Wantz, as well as several police chiefs from surrounding communities.
Wantz said what made Partridge stand out from the other candidates was his philosophy on community policing. Wantz said Partridge wanted to be "very visible to the public, to work closely with the City Council, and Town staff, attending local sports events." Wantz said he expects Partridge to "be a very visible presence in the community, and when he can sneak out of the office, I fully expect him to be out on patrol."
Partridge has over 20 years with the Maryland State Police and received the unanimous support of the selection committee.
Etzler’s resignation, according to Town staff, was a result of an "intra-departmental personnel matter." City officials did not elaborate. Etzler had worked for the Taneytown Police Department for 20 years, and had himself become Chief of Police in 2019 after former Police Chief William Tyler was arrested and plead guilty to one count of illegally possessing and transferring a machine gun. Tyler had served as the Chief for 15 years.
