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Lifelong resident and son of officer set to lead Prince George’s police department Lifelong resident and officer’s son confirmed to lead Prince George’s police department
(35 minutes later)
As a young boy, Hank Stawinski would often be out and about with his father, watching in awe as the Prince George’s County police officer interacted with others in the community. As a young boy, Hank Stawinski would often be out and about with his father, watching in awe as the Prince George’s County police officer interacted with the community.
“I could see that my dad saw things that other people didn’t see,” Stawinski said. “It was always curious to me. We would talk about what someone in his job did and how you learn human nature and human behavior.”“I could see that my dad saw things that other people didn’t see,” Stawinski said. “It was always curious to me. We would talk about what someone in his job did and how you learn human nature and human behavior.”
It was work that continued to fascinate Stawinski and eventually push him to become a member of the department himself. Twenty-three years later, Stawinski is poised to lead the force. It was work that continued to fascinate Stawinski and eventually pushed him to follow his father and become a member of the department himself. Twenty-three years later, Stawinski was selected to lead the force and confirmed as chief Tuesday.
After serving as interim chief since Mark A. Magaw’s retirement a little more than a month ago, Stawinski is set to take the oath of office Tuesday afternoon after confirmation from the County Council. After serving as the department’s interim leader since Mark A. Magaw’s retirement a little more than a month ago, Stawinski was unanimously confirmed by the County Council.
[Magaw retires as Prince George’s police chief but stays with county][Magaw retires as Prince George’s police chief but stays with county]
In his first month in the department’s top spot as interim chief, Stawinski has had to address the slaying of a 2-year-old girl and her mother over child-support payments and the investigation into an elementary school volunteer arrested on child porn charges involving 16 students and counting. In his first month as interim chief, Stawinski had to address the slaying of a 2-year-old girl and her mother, allegedly over child-support payments, and the investigation into an elementary school volunteer arrested on child porn charges involving more than a dozen students.
“I want this community to be intolerant of violence and terrible crimes, particularly those that affect children,” Stawinski said. “The worst thing you can do is commit a crime against a child.”“I want this community to be intolerant of violence and terrible crimes, particularly those that affect children,” Stawinski said. “The worst thing you can do is commit a crime against a child.”
As chief, Stawinski said he isn’t interested in shaking up the department. Instead, he hopes to focus on getting the department’s finances in order and build on the improvements the county has made over the last five years in reducing crime and strengthening relationships with the community. As chief, Stawinski said he isn’t interested in shaking up the department. Instead, he wants to focus on finding efficiencies in the department’s budget and build on improvements the county has made over the past five years in reducing crime and strengthening relationships with the community.
“What I’d like to see is a community secure in the knowledge that crime is actively managed,” Stawinski said.“What I’d like to see is a community secure in the knowledge that crime is actively managed,” Stawinski said.
In addition to “preventing victimization,” Stawinski said much of his work will be about “redefining in people’s minds Prince George’s County as a safe community — a vibrant community — where you can travel and do wonderful things.” In addition to “preventing victimization,” Stawinski said, much of his work will be about “redefining in people’s minds Prince George’s County as a safe community — a vibrant community — where you can travel and do wonderful things.”
The lifelong Prince George’s County resident graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology at Boston College before joining the academy in the early 1990s. The lifelong Prince George’s resident graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville. He received a degree in biology from Boston College before entering the county police academy in the early 1990s.
Over two decades, Stawinski rose up the ranks, working as a homicide detective and commander of one of the county’s busiest police districts before eventually becoming deputy chief over daily operations. Over two decades, Stawinski rose through the ranks, working as a homicide detective and commander of one of the county’s busiest police districts before eventually becoming deputy chief over daily operations.
While head of the bureau of patrol, Stawinski became known for his data-driven approach to analyzing crime throughout the day to deploy resources. In the past, the department would review crime reports from the day before and make strategic decisions in the morning.While head of the bureau of patrol, Stawinski became known for his data-driven approach to analyzing crime throughout the day to deploy resources. In the past, the department would review crime reports from the day before and make strategic decisions in the morning.
“We manage this department in real time now,” Stawinski said. “We are constantly evaluating and reallocating resources in the course of the day.”“We manage this department in real time now,” Stawinski said. “We are constantly evaluating and reallocating resources in the course of the day.”
In naming Stawinski to the position of interim chief, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) pointed to Stawinski’s work with crime data and building community relationships as part of his success. In naming Stawinski to the position of interim chief,County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) referred to Stawinski’s work with crime data and building community relationships as part of his success.
“His diversity of talents and abilities will continue the transformation of PGPD as one of the nation’s premier police departments,” Baker said in December.“His diversity of talents and abilities will continue the transformation of PGPD as one of the nation’s premier police departments,” Baker said in December.
At his confirmation hearing, county council members pointed to Stawinski’s open communication and dedication to community relationships as benefits for Prince George’s.
Council member Mel Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro) noted that Stawinski was standing with faith leaders, hip-hop leaders and other members of the community in a “Stop the Violence” march this year.
“You were there showing that you understand the diversity of the community and the importance of those issues and how far we’ve come as a county on this issues,” Franklin said. “Even though we have some work to do, we’ve come a long way.”
When asked if he had concerns about being a white police chief for a majority-minority county, Stawinski said he grew up in Prince George’s and has worked hard to develop relationships among all groups in the community.
Council member Deni Taveras (D-Adelphi) said Stawinski is highly analytical and highly intelligent.
“You are someone who has been around,” Taveras said. “It’s going to show there is going to be a lot of continuity from the previous leadership to your leadership.”
But there will be hard work ahead for Stawinski as chief, council members reminded him.
“There are some people who don’t believe you have enough diversity in your upper ranks,” council member Andrea C. Harrison said, calling the issue the “800-pound gorilla in the room.” “Remember those who have been in the force who have been in blue shirts that may look like me that can end up in the white shirts as well.”
Stawinski later told reporters that he is committed to ensuring that the people working in the department reflect the makeup of the county.
Also on Tuesday, the County Council approved former deputy chief Gevonia Whittington as the head of the county’s Homeland Security operations.
Former Prince George’s assistant chief and current Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis attended the council meeting to support Stawinski and Whittington. Davis said Whittington was straightforward, collaborative and honest.
“I appreciate the opportunity to make you all proud,” Whittington told the council.
Last week, Stawinski addressed his first class of academy graduates as the department’s top leader.Last week, Stawinski addressed his first class of academy graduates as the department’s top leader.
He urged the latest group of officers to be kind, patient, compassionate and strong as they embarked on their new careers. He also asked them to be mindful of what kind of career they’d want to look back on when they retired decades from now and make the officers who came ahead of them proud. He urged the latest group of officers to be kind, patient, compassionate and strong as they embarked on their new careers. He also asked them to be mindful of what kind of career they would want to look back on when they retired, and make the officers who came ahead of them proud.
It’s a sentiment Stawinski said he personally hopes to continue as chief. It’s a sentiment Stawinski said he hopes to continue as chief.
“Our job is to take the work that they’ve done and build upon it in such a way that when we retire,” Stawinski said, “people will say of us that this department is a better place for our having been part of it.” “Our job is to take the work that they’ve done and build upon it in such a way that when we retire, people will say of us that this department is a better place for our having been part of it,” Stawinski said.