Chief Stoney Mathis and members of his command staff had jokes for the crowd gathered to bid the chief farewell after three memorable years of service and a dramatic decline of violent crime in Columbus. Chief Mathis said they were holding “a viewing” for those who wanted to stop by and say goodbye. He and his staff used the ceremony to heap praise, and address critics head on with humor.
Assistant Chief Lance Deaton said the Chief would often stop by his office with straight talk in good times and bad. When Deaton was recently photographed during a television interview with a red hat on his desk often worn by President Trump supporters the chief asked Deaton what exactly he was thinking but later thanked him “for taking the heat off me” for a little while.
Chief Mathis used the occasion to make a public recommendation that Assistant Chief Lance Deaton replace him at the helm of the police department…