The Peoria Police Department officially has a new chief who’s familiar in the role. Loren Marion has served as interim chief for the last nine months. He’s been with the department for 23-years, is an Army veteran and a third generation police officer.
He takes the post as the police department is losing 16 full-time positions. But those vacancies and more already exist, and Marion says a few more retirements are still expected with the city’s buyout offer.
He says the department will continue to focus on excellent service. “The main function is patrol. We do have seven officers in the academy. And then we’re planning on hiring five in February at least because we have a couple with prior experience that have just tested. So I hope by early February that we’ll be up to about the same levels that we are now so that can continue to operate as we are now.”
The Peoria Police Department is about 205 strong. Marion says about 190 officers will be wearing body cameras by Thanksgiving. He officially takes the role of chief during what some call one of the biggest shift in policing in recent years.
Marion says the agency will continue to work the Focused Deterrence Strategy formerly called Don’t Shoot and also expand on community-police relations.
Marion’s salary is $165,000 a year.