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Susan Smith Named Yuma's First Female Police Chief

KAWC | By Victor Calderón
Published March 7, 2019 at 5:03 PM MST
Courtesy of the Yuma Police Department.
Current Yuma Police Deputy Chief Susan Smith will become the department's next chief on March 29 following the retirement of Chief John Lekan.

History was made Wednesday as Yuma city leaders announced the hiring of the first female police chief in the city’s history.

Deputy Police Chief Susan Smith has been promoted to take over following the retirement later this month of Chief John Lekan.

Smith has served in her current position since 2012 and has been with YPD since 1992. She has also served as a dispatcher, lieutenant and captain.

Smith was selected from three finalists.

“My priority is to continue to maintain the strong community relation that we have- the open communication to make sure that we maintain the trust the community has in the Yuma Police Department and the City of Yuma,” Smith said.

Lekan served with YPD for 33 years. His last day on the job is March 28.
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Law Enforcement Yuma Police Department
Victor Calderón
Victor is originally from West Sacramento, California and has lived in Arizona for more than five years. He began his print journalism career in 2004 following his graduation from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Victor has been a reporter for the following daily newspapers: The Monterey County Herald, The Salinas Californian and the Reno Gazette-Journal, where he covered stories including agriculture, education and Latino community news. Victor has also served as a local editor for Patch, a national news organization with hyperlocal websites, in Carmichael, California in the Sacramento area. He also served as the editor for The New Vision, the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, which includes Yuma and La Paz counties. Victor lives in Somerton. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and following most sports.
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