The Lake City Council formally announced during their meeting Monday the hire of a new chief for the Lake City Police Department. Denison Police Chief, Dan Schaffer, will officially take over in Lake City at the beginning of December. He brings nearly 40 years of experience in police work with him, which started in Calhoun County.
Schaffer says it is a bit of nostalgic irony that he is returning almost exactly four decades after he left the Lake City Police Department. He says it was a privilege to serve the people of Denison for the last five years, but he could not pass up the opportunity to return to his hometown.
The past 14 months have been difficult for the Lake City Police Department. In September 2020, three of their four officers tendered their resignations over a short period, leaving only a single certified officer on the force at the time. Filling those vacancies has proven challenging, and Schaffer says addressing any issues, whether they be inside or outside the department, will be one of his top priorities.
Schaffer adds law enforcement is fortunate to have a lot of support in the area, as that is not the case in other parts of the country. He is hoping to hold a public forum once he gets settled to give residents a chance to voice their thoughts on departmental issues. Schaffer and his wife, Shelley, who is also a Lake City native, live on an acreage just outside of town. When not on duty, he spends much of his time on property upkeep, hunting, fishing or being around family. Schaffer will be replacing Tom Steinborn, who has served as the interim police chief for the last year.
