ROUND ROCK ― After announcing this year that he would be retiring for health reasons, Cedar Park Police Chief Sean Mannix stepped down last week.
Mannix, 56, announced Jan. 24 that he was retiring, saying he was being treated for cancer and that he planned to tour the country with his wife. He said in a phone interview Monday that he expected to be declared cancer-free within two months. Mannix declined to say what kind of cancer he had.
He said he and his wife have bought an RV and plan to travel to California in August for the birth of his first grandson. “I look forward to spending time with my family, seeing my new grandson and seeing where the next chapter takes me,” Mannix said.
In an emotional video posted Friday on Twitter, Mannix signed off on a hand-held police radio.
“Show me 10-42,” Mannix said over the radio. The code is traditionally used when an office retires and means they are ending their tour of duty.
Dispatch responded back to Mannix on the radio by saying: “We extend our deepest gratitude to the chief for his 37 years of dedicated service to the law enforcement profession.”
“Thanks for your leadership, guidance and compassion to the department and citizens you have served. Your brothers and sisters in blue have the watch from here. Your Cedar Park police family wishes you a happy and fulfilling retirement.”
The City Council on Thursday appointed Assistant Police Chief Mike Harmon as interim chief of police.
“I’d like to sincerely thank Chief Mannix for his service to the city of Cedar Park. I respect his decision to focus on family and health, and I wish him the best,” City Manager Brenda Eivens said Monday.
“As we work to evaluate the needs of our Police Department prior to beginning the search for a permanent chief, I have full confidence in Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon’s leadership and ability to manage our department through this transition period.”
Mannix spent 37 years in law enforcement, including 10 years as a police officer in the Alameda, Calif., and 20 years at the Austin Police Department where the last title he held was assistant chief.
Mannix said his most important accomplishments as Cedar Park police chief were starting a regional SWAT team with Leander, Georgetown and the Pflugerville police departments and starting a special victims unit.
“I’m proudest of the men and the women of the department and the culture of excellence; they go out and do a tough job and do it well everyday,” he said.
“I’m leaving the Cedar Park Police Department in good hands with excellent leadership and some of the most talented cops.”
As police chief, Mannix also faced controversy. Greg Kelley and his supporters called last year for Mannix and Sgt. Chris Dailey to resign. In November, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Kelley’s conviction of super aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2014.
Police had accused Kelley of molesting a 4-year-old boy at a Cedar Park day care site, but new evidence after Kelley’s trial turned up two other viable suspects, prosecutors have said.
Kelley said in November that Mannix had previously told him that Kelley had a “disease” and that Kelley’s supporters were “a cult.”
Spurred by the criticism, the City Council hired an outside firm in 2017 to review the policies and procedures of the Cedar Park Police Department.
Mannix, speaking Monday about the calls for him to resign, said “I don’t think you have the luxury of being a police chief without garnering some criticism along the way.”
“You will never make everyone happy,” he said.
He departed his job Friday with three retirement gifts: a customized .45 caliber pistol from the SWAT team, a badge from the Cedar Park Police Association naming him “Chief Emeritus,” and a $1,000 gift certificate from his command staff to ride the Amtrak train.
“It’s the people I will miss the most”
It’s a bittersweet day here at CPPD. Chief Mannix, we cannot thank you enough for the last 7 years of guidance and service. Your brothers and sisters in blue have the watch from here 🖤💙🖤 Enjoy retirement! @seanmannix1 pic.twitter.com/jWxoHfoA2J
— Cedar Park Police (@CedarParkPD) February 28, 2020
Credit: Source link
