Cathedral City Police Chief Stan Henry To Retire
Cathedral City police chief Stan Henry, who helped lead the fight against gangs, is retiring.
Henry is only the city’s 3rd police chief since it began in the 1980’s.
Henry helped start the department. He was one of the original 26 officers back in 1984.
“They gave me the best job, I think. I was in charge of purchasing all the radios, the guns, the cars, overseeing building the police department that was on Perez Road,” said Henry.
And, Henry continued to try to keep the department on the cutting edge of police technology.
Cathedral City became one of the first cities in the valley to add computers to their police cars, so officers can look up information in the field.
The department also went to paperless reports.
But the chief’s proudest accomplishment is the department’s work to fight gangs.
The department started an anti-gang unit. It helped pave the way for Coachella Valley Gang Task Force and it’s countywide counterpart.
Henry also worked with the D.A.’s office to enact the valley’s first gang injunction.
“You got to be able to give them the tools. A gang injunction is a tool they can able to use to help enforce some of the rules and regulations on the gang members. The equipment that we give them is tools that they can be able to use to make the community safer,” said Henry.
Chief Henry’s last day is December 16th.
He said he’s like to promote someone internally to replace him but that decision is up to the city manager.
But Henry hopes to see Cpt. Kevin Connors succeed him as the next chief.
Connors is another original officer of the department.
The chief says he’ll still be in the valley spending time with his children and grandchildren.
And, as he looks back, he said his greatest achievement is helping make Cathedral City a place people want to live.
“There’s been a lot of growth in the valley and in the city and it’s been exciting to be able to lead some of the change and some of that growth and it’s been exciting to be involved in it and be a part of it,” said Henry.
