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In a surprise move that stunned some members of the Warsaw Police Department, Mayor Ernest Wiggins made a change at the top of the organization today.
Wiggins replaced Police Chief Craig Allebach with Capt. Steve Foster this morning.
"I've been mulling this over for some time and decided this weekend, with budget preparation about to get underway, that now was the time to make the move," Wiggins said. "It has nothing to do with Craig's job performance. It's more a matter of my comfort with the communication.
"I have every confidence that Steve will serve the people of Warsaw in the same professional manner that Craig has done," he added.
Allebach said he now assumes Foster's duties as captain and will continue to be heavily involved with seeking out and applying for law enforcement grants - something he has gained much experience in as chief.
"It's just one of those things where you have to roll with the punches," Allebach said. "I'll be doing what he was doing and he'll be doing what I was doing."
Foster said he has always had a close working relationship with Allebach, and that will not change with the titles the pair are exchanging.
"I appreciate this opportunity," Foster said. "I have a great deal of respect for Craig and what he's done with this department and in this community," Foster said. "I certainly expect this transition to be a seamless one."
Several department members, who asked not to be identified, said the change at the top was totally unexpected.
"I'm speechless," one said. "I think Capt. Foster will do a good job, but I thought the chief was doing a good job."
