Norman
The selection of Columbus Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Norman as the city’s next chief of police might have been one of the easier choices Mary Ferdon has had to make in her first year as mayor. If service, experience, institutional knowledge, loyalty and community support count, candidates would have been hard-pressed to rival Norman’s resume.
Ferdon last week announced Norman’s selection after an interview committee that included city leaders and community leaders assisted in making the decision to promote him.
A Columbus native, Norman worked his way up through the ranks in a 29-year law enforcement career in which he has exclusively served the city and the residents of his hometown. And in continuing to do so, he is continuing a family tradition.
“My father was a state trooper, so it was in my DNA, I believe, from early on,” Norman told The Republic. “All I ever wanted to be was a police officer …”
And he did indeed begin his CPD career as a patrolman in 1994, and over the years served in a variety of supervisory leadership roles including narcotics detective, public information officer, uniform lieutenant and uniform captain. Norman was named deputy chief in 2020 by current chief Mike Richardson, who is retiring and will begin a new role as director of security and risk in June.
“I’ve been a police officer for 29 years, and Columbus has been my home my whole life. Columbus PD has been my home department my whole career,” Norman told The Republic. “I felt like I had so much more to give and wanted to keep it in a positive space and keep pushing the police department forward.”
It’s obvious that Norman has given much to his community, but he also has been humbled by the community support he received, especially after he was seriously injured nearly two years ago when he was struck by a truck on an Interstate 70 on-ramp in Indianapolis.
He spent 18 days in the intensive care unit at Eskananzi Hospital in Indianapolis and has since undergone multiple surgeries and extensive physical rehabilitation. The Republic’s sports editor Ted Schultz covered a nice story last June when local softball players gathered for a fundraising game in Norman’s honor. In just one example of Norman’s community activities, he’s served as an assistant softball coach at Columbus North High School, where his daughters Kat, Sierra and Lucy were student athletes.
“My wife (Janae) and my girls, my friends, this community has been great at taking care of us,” Norman said at the charity game last year. “… I can’t say enough about Columbus and this community and everybody in it.”
In announcing Norman as CPD’s new chief, Ferdon said his “dedication to serving our community, his integrity and his leadership skills make him the perfect fit for this role. I have no doubt that under Chief Norman’s guidance, the Columbus Police Department will continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well being of our residents.”
Norman’s swearing in ceremony will be April 2 at Columbus City Hall. He has served this community honorably and ably, and we wish him continued success leading CPD.
