Laffin reflects on his decision to retire

Retiring Chief of Police Dan Laffin said that Lovell has been the best possible community both to police for and live in. 

“This is the greatest community to serve as chief of police. We have developed partnerships with the citizens that are unparalleled anywhere else. And keep in mind, I was an SVU detective in Texas before I relocated here with my family,” Laffin said. “The relationships and the support from the community is unparalleled anywhere in the country.”

Laffin publicly announced his retirement as chief of police December 19 and Roger Haney was appointed as interim chief of police until he was appointed on the 21st at a special town council meeting. Haney was officially appointed chief on January 9, and Laffin will serve on the police force until the end of January, when he officially retires from policing and pursues a job with a federal agency in the “law enforcement arena.”

He plans to work that role for the foreseeable future and said that the national average tenure for police chiefs is about seven years. Laffin said that he feels he has accomplished his goals as a police chief and that the agency grew, so he is ready to move on. 

“I don’t believe in camping out in a position. I believe in term limits. I think it’s very important to have that,” he said. “We’ve accomplished everything we’ve needed to accomplish that I set out for the agency. In a small agency like this, upward advancement is very difficult unless the people at the top vacate.” 

Laffin said there wasn’t a single reason that he decided to retire. He joined the police department in 2017 and was appointed chief a few months later. When he became chief, he laid out benchmark standards that he believed the agency needed to accomplish. 

When he was 17, Laffin enlisted in the military. He said he spent 22 years in the army, serving all over the world, including Iraq during the early 2000s, on many different continents. He was deployed to combat three times and retired from the military at Fort Hood, Texas, before relocating to Lovell.

“It was just a natural kind of transition for me to get into police work to still maintain that service to others and talent,” Laffin said.

Despite the difficult situations Laffin has encountered in his careers, he said that he has always had the mentality to serve the public. He said his career advancements in the military and law enforcement show he has been competent throughout his career, because one does not advance in those fields unless they are successful.

“I think myself answering [about my success] is less appropriate than those that put me in the position or kept me in the position, they should answer that question,” Laffin said.

Lovell mayor Tom Newman said that he has been glad to have Laffin as chief of police and is grateful for what he has accomplished. He said Laffin brought a high level of professionalism to the department that elevated the force. 

Newman said he is excited for Laffin’s future endeavors. 

Meanwhile, Laffin said he has appreciated the community of Lovell, not just for his chance to serve as chief of police but for the way he has been welcomed by the community as a resident and the many opportunities he has had to be involved. 

“Both of my boys go to the schools right here in the Lovell school district. So, and this is what I’ve said before, we’re not just the police. We’re members of the community. You know, my wife and I were Cub Scout leaders for the local Cub Scout pack,” he said.