After 10 years as a Fairfax police officer, Sgt. Chris Morin seemed like the natural choice to replace long-time Police Chief Ken Hughes when Hughes retires on July 31.
"He was really the heir apparent; for me there was no point in even looking," said Mayor Lew Tremaine.
The Town Council did not conduct an application or search process, rather they interviewed Morin – who also serves as the Administrative Sgt. of Police – and voted unanimously to appoint him as chief. He starts the new position Aug. 1
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Morin was met with extensive applause and a standing ovation when he was presented to the community as the new chief at the July 7 Town Council meeting.
"It's been very humbling, the amount of support I've gotten, and I appreciate that and I thank you all," said Morin.
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Morin was commended for his community approach to policing and for understanding the town's unique character.
"He totally gets the community," said Tremaine.
Before serving in the Fairfax Police Department, Morin worked in the San Rafael and Oakland police departments. The San Anselmo resident has followed in his family's footsteps, as his father served in the Fairfax Police Department in the 1960s and his grandfather served as a reserve police officer for San Anselmo before that.
Morin is replacing a much beloved chief. Hughes has served in the Fairfax police force for 39 years and as Police Chief since the early 1990s.
"It has been a very enjoyable, quick 39 years," said Hughes.
"I'm feeling very fortunate," said Tremaine. "He was the perfect police chief for the town of Fairfax. And he's being replaced by the perfect police chief for the town."
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