After 28 years in law enforcement, including four here in Cañon City, Support Services Commander Elliott VanDyke is retiring to pursue another field of work.
However, he leaves his post in the capable hands of newly promoted Commander Chase Leonard.
Cañon City Police Chief John Schick said VanDyke has been instrumental in helping the department transition to 21st Century Policing Principles and changing the culture of the agency.
"Over the last two years as Support Services Commander, VanDyke has brought the perspective and experience of a twenty-eight-year cop, who served in varying and complex capacities," he said. "Elliot's can-do positive attitude has always been infectious for everyone who served with him. His perspective and positivity will certainly be missed by all of us."
VanDyke came to Cañon City from Jacksonville, Florida, in 2019. He was promoted to sergeant in February 2020 and then to Support Services Division Commander in January 2022.
Although no longer active in law enforcement, VanDyke will still be seen in and around the department and across the community. He will be a regional sales representative for Curtis Blue Line, a company that sells duty gear, body armor, tactical gear and more, and he will remain living in Cañon City.
He has enjoyed the community as a whole during his time with CCPD.
"Everybody has been so friendly, it's a tight-knit community, we have good leadership with the mayor, city council and Chief Schick," he said.
Looking back over the last few years, VanDyke is proud of his role in running the Support Services Division and having the opportunity to share some of the experiences he had in Jacksonville with the team here.
He is confident that his replacement will carry on his good work.
"Commander Leonard is one of the sharpest guys that I've met throughout my career, and I think he's going to be a great addition to Chief Schick's team," he said.
Schick said Leonard is VanDyke's relief hitter.
He said Leonard is perhaps the youngest Commander in CCPD history, but his youth is not indicative of his industry knowledge or capabilities.
"Chase is a high-energy leader committed to the 21st Century Policing and our 'Service Excellence' mantra," he said. "Commander Leonard, like VanDyke, is a consummate professional. Commander Leonard's commitment to his community, subordinates, leaders and peer agencies cannot be overstated."
Leonard, 31, was sworn in as a CCPD patrol officer in August 2015 and became a detective in May 2019 before promoting to sergeant in May 2020 at age 28. A year later, he became detective sergeant.
When Law Enforcement Commander Tim Bell was at the FBI National Academy for three months in 2022, Leonard filled in as the acting commander and got a good taste of what all the job entails. After VanDyke announced his retirement, Lenoard successfully tested for the position in early May.
"That was kind of one of my goals when I first started here, just to see what I could do," he said. "What I like about it, at least my perception of what it could be, is it expands my opportunity to help expand the organization. I think I can be of service and I think I can help."
Specifically in the Support Services role, it will broaden his opportunity to help more areas of the department, he said.
"I think this is an awesome staff, I really like working for Chief," he said. "It is vastly different than it was when I started and as we've come up it's been really enjoyable. Having the three months with (Chief Schick) when Commander Bell was gone was huge. Definitely a different perspective on things."
He said the direction Schick brought to the department when he came on board in late 2020 is significant.
"We are preaching 'service excellence,' making sure we are doing our due diligence to bring resolution to the cases that we are investigating and (creating) more of a community footprint than we've had in the (last several years)," he said.
Leonard was born and raised in Cañon City. He graduated from Cañon City High School in 2010. He and his wife, School Resource Officer Taryn Leonard, who works under the supervision of Commander Bell, are raising their two daughters here, as well.
Schick said Leonard's arrival as the new Support Services Commander has indeed helped in easing the blow of VanDyke's retirement.
"I am extremely proud and thankful to have had the opportunity to work with both of these dedicated servant leaders, they both inspire me to work harder," Schick said.
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