New chief Lewis promises ‘aggressive’ policing

Jim Lewis, who was sworn in as Green Bay’s interim police chief on Monday, promised policing that will be aggressive but not excessive.

“I’m here to tell you that ‘aggressive’ is a good word, and ‘excessive’ is a bad word,” said Lewis, 65, moments after taking the oath of office from Brown County Circuit Judge Donald Zuidmulder. “We will not condone excessive policing.”

Lewis said he would not seek permanent appointment to the post.

In a brief interview, Lewis said a priority would be to identify ways the city could improve police services. He said the department has a good reputation, particularly within the community it serves, despite having drawn criticism from people around the country after video of an officer’s aggressive arrest of a suspect in a disturbance outside a downtown bar went viral in 2014.

“In social media, yes, there may be an image issue,” he said. “But if I went to the Kiwanis Club or Rotary, they would probably say they were very proud of the police department.”

He said he would meet with his department heads this week for briefings on ongoing cases.

Supporters who attended the swearing-in praised Lewis for his keen mind and passion for the job.

“He taught me not to settle for second-best,” said Todd Thomas, a former Green Bay police captain who recently became chief in Appleton. “I’d recommend that people in this department try to gain as much knowledge from him as they can. Policing is in his DNA.”

Lewis, who lives in Black Creek, became a police officer in 1970 as the Vietnam War was winding down. He said that period was “a difficult time in policing,” but taught him a great deal about the job.

He rose to become chief in Bakersfield, Calif., before heading the Green Bay department from 1995 to 2003. Since then, he has worked as chief in Pomona, Calif., and New Haven, Conn. He also was interim chief in Appleton and Grand Chute, and was interim director of public safety at Yale University in New Haven.

Rod Goldhahn, a member of Green Bay’s Police and Fire Commission, said several factors made Lewis an attractive candidate to lead the department in the wake of Tom Molitor’s retirement last week. Molitor retired after a 35-year career, citing impaired effectiveness because of meddling by some members of the City Council.

“When the previous commission hired (Lewis) the first time, he had a lot of experience — and that was 20 years ago,” Goldhahn said. “Plus, this means we didn’t elevate someone from within the department. The benefit is that leaves the current command staff intact.”

Lewis has two children, a daughter who teaches school and a son who is a police officer, both in Appleton. He has five grandchildren. Lewis’ son, Appleton police Lt. Gary Lewis, assisted at the swearing-in.

— dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider