Coldwater has a new head of its police department for the first time in 18 years after Chief Undra Todd’s contract was not renewed by town leaders.
The Board of Aldermen elected not to reinstate Todd as chief by a 3-2 vote at its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 4. According to state law, an employee can be paid by a municipality up to 180 days without being officially reappointed by a new set of aldermen.
Coldwater elected five new Board members in the primary election last June after four incumbents chose not to seek re-election. The other incumbent lost in the April primary. All five aldermen officially took office July 1.
Todd was promoted to police chief in 2004 under then-Mayor Jessie Edwards. He is being replaced by interim Rickey Dandridge, who has served as an officer in Coldwater the past two years.
“I am very excited and look forward to the challenges of serving and protecting the citizens of Coldwater,” Dandridge said.
Current Coldwater Mayor Glenn Billingsley likes what Dandridge brings to the table as a person and law enforcement officer.
“He is not only a good policeman, but he is an even better man,” Billingsley said. “We will work with Chief Dandridge to make our town a better and safer place to live.”
Coldwater added a familiar face to its police force during a swearing in ceremony alongside Dandridge on Thursday, Jan. 6. Gary Garrison, who served as an officer in Coldwater from 1999 through 2004 and in Greenwood from 2004 through 2016, was rehired by the town.
