City of Casa Grande - City of Casa Grande News

Police Chief Robert Huddleston to Retire in March of 2013

August 9, 2012 After a law enforcement career spanning three decades, all with the City of Casa Grande Police Department, Chief Robert Huddleston has submitted notice of his intent to retire early next year. Chief Huddleston will leave the department on March 31, 2013. “This early notice of retirement will give the City an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive search for my replacement and provide an overlap period to ensure a smooth transition from my service to that of the new chief,” Huddleston explained in his notice of intent to Casa Grande City Manager Jim Thompson. Huddleston entered the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Deferred Retirement Option Program back in 2008, which requires him to retire no later than the end of five years from the date of program entry, which is reflected in the planned separation date of March of 2013. “The idea of public service and specifically public safety appealed to me early on,” Chief Huddleston explained. “It has been a great honor and privilege to first be a part of an excellent police department and to work with the finest law enforcement personnel anywhere, and then to actually lead the department has been a great experience in my life. It’s been a great career, but it’s now time to pass the torch to the next chief. There are many challenges ahead, but I’m confident our new chief will build on this solid foundation and make the department even stronger.” Upon receiving the letter of intent, City Manager Jim Thompson expressed his appreciation for Chief Huddleston’s years of service and his willingness to provide a retirement date well enough in advance to have a new police chief in place prior to his departure. “Chief Huddleston has done a fine job helping our police department grow during a time of unprecedented community growth. It’s rare these days to be able to have a chief of police that actually grew up in the city he serves and Bob’s deep Casa Grande roots are reflected in his genuine affection for Casa Grande and its citizens and in his commitment and dedication to the job,” said Thompson. Huddleston is a graduate of Casa Grande Union High School. He joined the Casa Grande Police Department as a patrol officer in March of 1980. He was promoted to Police Sergeant exactly six years later and then to Lieutenant in 1989. When then-Chief Don Maxon’s health issues became serious in early 1998, Huddleston was named Acting Chief, and finally when Maxon resigned his post, Huddleston was promoted to fill the top position in the department in December of 1998. The City of Casa Grande will hire a recruitment agency to conduct an executive search to fill the position of Chief of Police. A new Chief of Police will be selected before March of 2013. Elite Real Estate Pros Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner, REALTOR®, CDPE (520) 280-2766 Email: info@eliterealestatepros.com