Interim Chief Steps In During Leadership Transition

Deputy Chief Joseph Trigg will lead the Grand Rapids Police Department as interim chief of police starting March 2, following the resignation of Chief Eric Winstrom who is departing to become the next police chief in Pensacola, Florida.

Trigg, who has spent his entire 25-year law enforcement career with GRPD, brings decades of experience to the role. He has served in every capacity within the department, from patrol officer in the North Neighborhood Service Area to his current position as deputy chief of field operations.

This is my only department, will only be my only department. So that's not going to skip a beat, Trigg said.

City Manager Mark Washington appointed Trigg on Monday following Winstrom's announcement of his resignation.

Deputy Chief Trigg has demonstrated strong leadership and a deep commitment to public safety and this community throughout his career. His experience and knowledge of our city make him well-suited to lead the department during this transition, Washington said.

Trigg was promoted to deputy chief in 2023 under Chief Winstrom's leadership, and he has worked alongside Winstrom for the past two and a half years. He described the departure as emotional for the department.

We are dealing with officers that are kind of saddened by the chief's departure. He's been a great boss for almost four years, Trigg said. I want to make sure that they know they can be sad, but don't be discouraged. This is a great organization. We're going to keep moving it.

Leadership Lessons From Winstrom

Trigg said he learned important leadership lessons from Winstrom during his tenure. He emphasized the importance of being present in the community and with officers rather than leading through emails and phone calls.

You gotta be present to build a relationship. You can't do it over the phone, text message or whatever. You actually have to be present, Trigg said. Be at the lineups where you see the officers, be on scene with the officers, be out in the community at the events.

The most important lesson for Trigg was showing that he cares about the department and community.

The smallest things make the biggest impacts, Trigg said. Taking the time, whether it's when our officers experience some adversity in life, making sure they see us at the funeral service, or just taking the time to go to different community events or meetings — to say that you're willing to sacrifice your time to listen and hear them.

Focus On Stability During Transition

Trigg said his immediate priority is maintaining department morale and ensuring a smooth transition while the city conducts a national search for a permanent chief. The city plans to hire a professional search firm to conduct a comprehensive search.

My goal right now is just to make sure the transition is nice and smooth, that the department knows that they have an interim chief that supports them through the good and the bad, that the community knows that they have somebody that they can talk to and turn to. And then we'll see what the future holds, Trigg said.

Trigg also noted that the department plans to add five additional community officers this fall as planned, maintaining the momentum on safety initiatives.

Family Ties to Grand Rapids

Trigg's commitment to Grand Rapids runs deep. He was born and raised in the Muskegon area and earned his associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College and bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University. He joined GRPD in 2001 after graduating from the Lansing Community College Police Academy.

His children are following in his footsteps. His son, who was hired last April, had his first solo patrol on Feb 9. His daughter is currently an intern who hopes to get a degree in forensics and become a forensic tech at the agency.

I don't say never too often, but I will never work for another agency. This is my final chapter, and I'm okay with that. We'll see how long this this goes, but fully invested in this department, this city, there will be no other department, trust me, Trigg said.

When asked if he was applying for the permanent chief position, Trigg said he wants to focus on the present.

There's a job in front of me right now, and I'm going to do that to the best of my ability. I want to make sure our department morale stays high. Make sure there's a smooth transition that we keep focusing on, on safety, community engagement, Trigg said.

Trigg plans to remain interim chief until a permanent candidate is selected, though he emphasized that his focus is on the present rather than future positions.

Looking Forward

As interim chief, Trigg will maintain the short-term goals and level of service that the department has established. He wants to ensure the department continues its work on safety and community engagement while the permanent chief position is being filled.

We're going to hold ourselves accountable, and we welcome the community, holding itself, holding us accountable. I think it helps drive our excellence. And I care about this department and this community, Trigg said. I've been here. This is, this is home to me, and the success of this department means more to me than anything.

The city will continue its search for a permanent police chief, with City Manager Mark Washington planning to be aggressive in finding a qualified candidate for the position.