Chief William Lenaghan Will Leave Island, Pleased With Progress
Police Chief Will Take Post in Leoni
By Eric Fish

William Lenaghan in front of the Courthouse and Police Station. (File photograph)

If there's one thing that William Lenaghan is the most proud of in his five years as Mackinac Island police chief, it's his open door policy and his work to integrate the police department into the community.

In mid-September, Chief Lenaghan will become the Public Safety Director at Leoni, where he will oversee the city's police and fire departments. The move takes Chief Lenaghan, who has worked in law enforcement since 1965, and his wife, Lois, closer to permanent retirement and to family.

The decision was difficult, he said, but added, "There's some family and personal obligations that are pressing that I can't really resolve from here. It takes us being down there. This opportunity presented itself, so I took it."

The City of Mackinac Island plans to form a committee to search for a successor, but has not yet done so.

Upon his arrival on the Island in the summer of 2003, Mr. Lenaghan said he began improving the public relations skills of his officers, improved equipment, instituted more police involvement in Harrisonville, and encouraged more interaction between the department and community through emergency response seminars and workshops hosted by the department.

He said he introduced the Island to the concept of community policing, which he defines as solving problems before they arise.

"I felt that there was a need of some direction when I got here, and I think now it's got its own direction," he said of the police department. "It's organized to the point where it will continue to function with whoever they put in my place. We have a pretty good pattern set. I think we've built a rapport with the people with community policing."

In his new job, Mr. Lenaghan said, "It'll be weird not having to ride a bike anymore. I'm trading my threespeed for a Jeep."

But leaving won't be easy for him or Mrs. Lenaghan.

"We've made many friendships here," he said, "and we felt we were introduced into the community very well. We'll be leaving some very close contacts behind."