Columbus Chief of Police Michael Richardson has announced the new command staff for the department.
Richardson was sworn in as new Columbus police chief on Dec. 31 by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop.
Richardson is a life-long resident of Columbus and Bartholomew County and worked his way up through the ranks of the police department. Richardson has nearly two decades of supervisory experience and during his time at CPD, he has served in numerous positions including patrol officer, field training officer, bike patrol officer, bomb technician, uniform sergeant, uniform lieutenant, uniform captain, and deputy chief of police.
Richardson is a graduate of Vincennes University with an associates of arts degree in law enforcement and a graduate of Indiana State University with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership Academy (PELA). Richardson has been married to his wife, Suzy, for 27 years and they have three children.
These officers will assist Richardson with the daily operations and management of the police department. They include:
Deputy Chief of Police: Steve Norman is a 25-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department. During his service at the department, Maj. Norman has worked his way up the ranks of the department as a patrol officer, a member of the CPD SWAT team, narcotics detective, public relations officer, uniform sergeant, uniform lieutenant and uniform captain. Major Norman is a graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.
Administrative Captain: Jon Rohde is a nearly 19-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department and most recently served as CPD’s police chief for the last 5½ years. Rohde joined the Columbus Police Department in 2001 and has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, SWAT team member, narcotics detective, narcotics detective sergeant, and previously served as administrative captain before becoming chief of police. Capt. Rohde attended Indiana University in Bloomington and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He later attended the Indiana School of Law in Indianapolis where he obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence. At age 35 when he became police chief, Rohde was the youngest police chief in the history of the department.
Uniform Captain: Jay Frederick is serving in his 30th year as a law enforcement officer in his native Columbus. Capt. Frederick joined CPD in 2001 after working at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office. Frederick holds a bachelor of science degree in public safety with a specialization in criminal justice. Frederick previously served as CPD’s school liaison officer, DARE coordinator, patrol sergeant, and most recently as lieutenant of the Criminal Investigations Division. As lieutenant of CID, Frederick oversaw the Detective Unit, the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), and the Intelligence Led Policing Unit (ILP).
