CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb swore in former Police Chief Dornat "Wayne" Drummond as the interim Public Safety Director and Dorothy "Annie" Todd as the new Chief of Police on Thursday.
You can watch the ceremony in the player below:
Bibb said Drummond had one of the biggest hearts when it comes to public service that he's ever seen and that he was a special leader.
"I absolutely love this city. I want what's best for this city," Drummond said.
Todd has served the division for 20 years. She will be the second woman to serve as the Chief of Police in Cleveland.
“I started my journey with the Division of Police in the late 90s as a traffic controller. I was a single mom at the time, and my daughter was around six years old at that time. She has seen me through my entire career. She has been a part of this journey for me. I have to say that this one’s for you," Todd said.
Todd's husband, Brian, a Cleveland police sergeant, pinned the badge.
"We’re very happy for her, very proud of her she does hard work," Brian said.
Todd said this promotion was for her daughter, Rebecca Schulte.
“My beautiful daughter who is my conscience and tells me about all the bad about every role I’m going to take," Todd said.
Schulte was just six years old when her mom got into policing.
“I’ll tell her the good and the bad I will definitely weigh the pros and cons with her," Schulte said.
What led to these changes?
Last Friday, Karrie Howard resigned from his position as Public Safety Director of Cleveland after the Assistant Safety Director was involved in a crash in a city-owned vehicle on a Saturday in Warrensville Heights.
Before Drummond was sworn in, Mayor Bibb touched on Howard's resignation.
Bibb said the two talked frequently about the future of the public safety department and how it was important to deliver to the community free of distractions and with a high level of confidence.
Watch our report on his resignation:
Jakimah Dye’s driving privileges were suspended, and an internal investigation was launched after she rear-ended another vehicle on the afternoon of Feb. 17. Warrensville Heights Police told News 5 that there were children in the car at the time of the crash.
RELATED: Body camera video shows moments after assistant safety director crashes city car
Howard responded to the Warrensville Heights crash scene. A city spokesperson said as her supervisor, it's protocol for Howard to take her for drug and alcohol testing.
Search for a permanent director
Todd is the new police chief, permanently, according to the city.
But Drummond's role as public safety director isn't.
RELATED: Will the search for a new Cleveland public safety director go national?
"It's highly unlikely that there weren't some discussions between some people about this, the timing of having everything all lined up and ready to go. When they make the announcements...makes it sound like people knew this was coming," Case Western Reserve University Criminal Law Professor Michael Benza said.
The mayor's office is now determining what the search will look like for a permanent safety director.
If the search goes national, it's expected the city will bring in a firm to help.
That was the plan for a national search, which never happened when Drummond was promoted to replace Calvin Williams as chief.
News 5 Investigator Tara Morgan asked Chief Todd what her priorities will be in this new role.
"Violent crime that’s our number one that’s the number one thing for the citizens another thing we have been working on is juvenile crimes," Chief Todd said.
Chief Todd said she also wants the city to have a better relationship with the Community Police Commission and make sure the Department of Justice and federal monitors see the progress they're making.
Drummond said his priority is violence prevention.
He revealed a crime gun intelligence center will be up and running in Cleveland in June.
“Where we can actually target those violent offenders and actually take crime guns," Drummond said.
