Crime & Safety

Greenfield Police Chief Discusses Career, Decision to Retire

Chief Frank Springob plans to retire in June after 46 1/2 years with the Greenfield Police Department.

Frank Springob grew up just two doors away from the old No. 2 Milwaukee Police Station near 6th Street and Mineral Street.

He’d watch the police officers coming and going, reporting for duty or marching out to their foot-patrol assignments.

He was just 4, maybe 5 years old, and would constantly ask his mom to take him over to talk with the officers. From that point on, he knew which direction he wanted his life to go.

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“I can’t ever remember not wanting to be one of those guys,” Springob said.

Springob has been one of “those guys” since Jan 1, 1965, when he joined the Greenfield Police Department as a police clerk trainee. On June 30, exactly 46 ½ years after his first day on the job, Springob, who has been the city’s police chief since Feb. 16, 1994, .

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“It’s a good time that I retire and make way for my successor," Springob, 67, said.

Springob said a major reason for his decision had to do with Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial budget proposal and the come 2012.

“It’s critical and essential we maintain the organization as we have it right now,” Springob said. “This is my attempt to in some small way provide a little bit of a cushion in the budget for 2011 and going into 2012.

“But it’s difficult in the sense that I enjoy what I do. Some of the duties and responsibilities I enjoy less, but I enjoy being the police chief, the leader, the manager of this police agency.”

Springob almost ended up working for the Milwaukee Police Department. After graduating from high school, he applied for a police aid opening. He registered the top score of nearly 400 applicants on the written test but failed the physical because of imperfect vision.

Milwaukee’s loss was Greenfield’s gain.

During the first 29 years of his tenure, Springob worked his way up from police clerk trainee to police officer to sergeant to lieutenant before being named chief.

He worked for the department when the original police headquarters were in the basement of the old town city hall, and has been a city employee for eight of Greenfield’s mayors.

“I’m like that thread in history that can go back through the years,” he said.

During his tenure as chief, the department moved into the new in 2007. Among the department's other accomplishments under Springob are shoring up the selection process of police officers; staying ahead of the curve by implementing new technologies; earning a good reputation not only in the city but also throughout the law enforcement profession; and cultivating and maintaining community partnerships.

Springob is also proud of the team he’s built around him. He repeatedly praised the likes of Inspector Mark Wildish, and Captain Paul Schlecht and others for the work they’ve done for and with him over the years.

“One of the most critical things for a police chief is, in my opinion, is not necessarily being the brightest lamp on the marquee, but to be able to identify others that are the bright lamps and put them in positions where they can utilize their talents and expertise,” Springob said.

“It’s definitely not a one-person show,” he added. “I have been as successful as I have been … because of the people I have surrounded myself with over the last 46 ½ years, all trying to do the best we possibly can to deliver a good, quality police-service product to any citizen that’s in need.”

Springob and his wife Helen are approaching their 41st anniversary. They have two sons, Scott and Steve, and five grandchildren. Steve has been a Greenfield police officer the last seven years.

Springob has to provide the Police and Fire Commission his retirement plans in writing and give at least 30 days notice. From there, he will give the commission his input on whom he believes should be the next chief should the commission seek it.

“It’s going to be up to the next police chief to build on the accomplishments that we’ve been able to achieve thus far and then raise the bar,” Springob said. “You have to find a way to constantly move forward because that’s what we’re here for, to deliver the best possible police service product that we can to our citizens.”


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