HANSON – After 12 years on the job, Police Chief Michael Miksch will retire on June 30, Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett announced at the board’s Tuesday, May 13 meeting.
“Anybody who has the good fortune to work with him knows that he is a prince among men,” she said in discussing his retirement notice letter sent to the Select Board. “He is very balanced, [has] very good judgment, which is kind of key in that role, and he’s really worked on developing folks amongst the ranks and I, personally, am going to miss [him].”
FitzGerald-Kemmett said she didn’t want to get emotional about it, but did say she had counted on Miksch on a “variety – a plethora – of things one could never imagine you’d have to talk to somebody about.”
“He’s always been there and given very good, sage advice for the town and the town employees,” she said. “You know if we could kidnap you and keep you longer, we would, but that’s not the right thing to do, so we’re not going to do that.”
For his part, Miksch said the town has been great to him and he appreciates that.
“If you asked me 12 years ago if I’d be here, and still be here, I probably would have said I highly doubt it,” he said. “I’m going to be retiring just short of 30 years, and I didn’t think, at times, I’d ever make it, but the finish line’s here and it’s the time of my life that it’s time to say I need to do something else.”
He said that he has met some wonderful people and incredible officers, one of which he said he hoped the board would make his replacement.
“You’ll have a number after that, I think, in years to come, you’ll be able to take care of, from within, the leadership of that department,” Miksch said. “For that, I’m very grateful. They’ve made my life easier, this job easier and, hopefully, I’ve left the place a little better than I found it.”
The board voted unanimously to accept Miksch’s resignation with regret.
“For what it’s worth, you’re just a good person,” added Select Board member Joe Weeks. “We’re going to miss you. You really are all-around. It’s really hard to take a vote on this one.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett added that, aside from all the plaudits heaped upon him, Miksch could also be a standup comedian.
“When you read his Facebook posts …” she said. Now we can whip back the curtain on who’s the Wizard of Oz. … The Hanson Police posts, which are hysterical, are Chief Miksch.”
The Board’s attention then swiveled to naming a successor to Chief Miksch.
Deputy Chief Michael Casey was nominated for the promotion, to which Miksch had alluded a few moments before. The board voted unanimously to appoint Casey.
FitzGerald-Kemmett said that, after discussions with Miksch and discussions among the board members on succession planning and that the board was generally in agreement on Casey’s being promoted.
Board Vice Chair Ann Rein said it was admirable that Miksch “pulled someone up” to replace him.
“He’s made my job easier, the officers respect him,” Miksch said. “He has done a great job over the past eight years … I am 100-percent confident that if I walked out tomorrow and handed him the keys everything would be fine.”
He said residents won’t notice any lack of service or major issues, he said. Casey, who has been with the department for 30 years can boast excellent institutional knowledge and connections in town. He’s also been in charge of recruitment for the last eight years.
“He’s good to go, he’s ready – and once he’s ready, it’s time for me to go, so, I’d say,
‘Fly baby bird, but there’s nothing baby about you,’” Misch said, patting Casey on the shoulder.
Casey, meanwhile, said Miksch is leaving the place better in terms of equipment, culture and leadership.