GREENFIELD — He’s a direct, hard-working, no-nonsense kind of leader whose decisions aim to keep the city’s police department moving forward. That’s how people who know Brian Hartman describe the new chief of the Greenfield Police Department — and how the new chief sees himself.
“As long as you’re staying ahead, you’re building a foundation for success, but at the end of the day, it’s not one person, it’s the officers in the field that make the Greenfield Police Department a success,” Hartman said. “This is not about me. It’s our department, all of us coming together with one common goal.”
Hartman officially became the 18th chief of the department on Tuesday morning when Mayor Chuck Fewell introduced him during a ceremony after a board of works meeting. Fewell promoted Hartman late last week, calling him the best person for the job. The mayor said Hartman is suited to keep the police force heading in a positive direction.
“He’ll carry the department where we need to go,” Fewell said. “The department is in good shape, and it’ll be even better under his guidance and his leadership.”
During the ceremony, held at city hall, the mayor pinned the chief’s badge to Hartman’s uniform for the first time.
“I just know that you’re going to fit in with my operation, because I think we can work together — in fact, I know we can work together,” Fewell told Hartman. “It’ll be a great time for the police department to grow as we all grow together. It’s my honor to give you this badge, and I know that you’ll represent it well.”
Calling himself “a simple, down-to-earth type person,” Hartman said he is passionate about serving the community and working with good officers who care about the city and its residents.
Hartman, who joined the department in 2008, will oversee 42 officers and an administrative team. With Hartman getting promoted from his position as deputy chief, one of the first things he’ll need to do is hire a new deputy chief, something he’ll do as soon as possible, he said.
“Whether there will be changes or not, there is definitely an open spot,” Hartman said.
The timing was right in his life and in his career, Hartman said, for him to take the job. Hartman and his wife, Stacy, have two college-aged children who are on their own adventures, and he noted he’ll have more time to give to the job.
“With all my previous experience and my time as a road captain and as a deputy chief, I feel I have a great overview, a sense of the police department,” Hartman said. “I think it’s the right move for myself and the police department.”
From setting budgets, leading the force and making department decisions, Hartman knows his plate is full, but he’s ready.
The Marine Corps veteran has a long list of credentials, including attending the U.S. Border Patrol Academy; FBI SWAT school; and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Leadership Academy. He credits former Chief Jeff Rasche, who retired in May, for preparing him after Rasche made him deputy chief 18 months ago.
“Jeff set me up for success preparing me for if this day ever came,” Hartman said. “Do I still have a lot to learn? Yes. Do I know it all? No. But, the great thing is we have great support at city hall, the clerk’s office and our city attorney — all these people are there for not only my success but the department’s success.”
Making proper administrative decisions is something Hartman knows will be one of the main focuses of his job, but he noted the department under Rasche and his administrative team built a strong foundation.
“This is never a one-person decision,” Hartman said. “There is one person who signs off on things, but there is never just one person that says this is what is best for the Greenfield Police Department, and that’s why we’ll have a trusted command staff.”
There are a few things about Hartman that really stand out, one of the department’s other leaders, Capt. Chuck McMichael, said.
“First and foremost, every decision he makes is for the betterment of the department and the city,” McMichael said.
Hartman is known as the type of leader who rarely makes a snap decision and never without considering all possibilities.
“Chief Hartman is a no-nonsense guy,” McMichael said. “He will tell you what he thinks without beating around the bush and will have an open conversation about the issue, and you can trust in what he tells you.”
Hartman plans to continue advancing technology and employing best practices and said he will maintain close contact to officers to make sure all their needs are met.
“We want to keep our officers at the Greenfield Police Department and look at what their futures look like,” Hartman said.
While Hartman said he feels fortunate to have a solid administrative staff and great officers on board, his biggest support comes from his home life: his wife, Stacy, and two children.
“They’re all very excited and supportive, and Stacy is my outlet and helps me see things from a different perspective outside of law enforcement,” Hartman said. “She’s a great support person to have.”
Hartman is troubled by the image that surrounds some police agencies but said the city of Greenfield is fortunate in that law enforcement enjoys community support.
“I think all of our officers have an understanding of things over the past couple of years of how law enforcement is seen,” Hartman said. “But, the main thing we can do is stay open-minded and fluid, because the profession changes every day.”
Hartman feels the GPD is ahead of the curve when it comes to being proactive and working with the community and residents. That’s the approach Hartman wants to continue as long as he’s the chief.
“I think for the size of Greenfield and our police department, we are already around the bend, but we can’t stop,” Hartman said. “We must continue to move forward, and I think our officers understand that.”
It goes back to Hartman’s motto of working hard, pushing forward and staying ahead of the game.
“We cannot play catch-up, because that’s when sacrifices and little things happen,” Hartman said. “We want to have an open line of communication with the public and city hall.”
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Brian Hartman’s resume with the Greenfield Police Department:
Joined GPD in July 2008
Field training officer, 2009 to present: Trains new full-time and reserve patrolmen
General instructor, 2012 to present: Trains officers in general courses of law enforcement
Basic firearms and shotgun instructor, 2012 to present: Trains officers in the use of deadly force and to be proficient with issued weapons
Detective Division, 2014 to 2018: Investigated various types of crimes, including financial crimes, theft, sex crimes and narcotics cases
Member of the SWAT Team, Bike Team, Dive Team
Road captain, December 2018 to February 2020
Deputy chief of police, February 2020 to June 2021
Chief of police, June 2021
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