New Philadelphia Police Chief Goodwin to retire next month
New Philadelphia Police Chief Michael Goodwin will retire next month after 40 years in law enforcement.
A lot can change in 40 years, and New Philadelphia Police Chief Michael Goodwin has been here through all of it. Goodwin, who is set to retire July 7, agreed to share a bit about his career, the changes he’s seen and what’s next for him and his family.
Born and raised in New Philadelphia, Goodwin studied carpentry at Buckeye Career Center and began a career in construction. Several years into it, a friend who was a member of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office Reserve asked Goodwin to join him.
“He said the sheriff’s department will put you through the academy, so I joined,” said Goodwin. “But I really had no interest in doing law enforcement full time.”
Fast forward seven years when another friend told Goodwin he should take the police officer’s test in New Philadelphia. Goodwin agreed, scoring the highest out of approximately 80 people. “So then I kind of felt obligated,” he said.
Starting as a patrol officer July 2, 1990, Goodwin rose through the ranks, being promoted to shift captain and then detective captain, eventually becoming chief in March 2013. It’s an interesting career for someone who had “no interest in doing law enforcement full time,”
Looking back, Goodwin said the advancements in technology represent the biggest change he has seen.” I used to type reports on a typewriter using the carbon paper,” he said. “But one of the biggest changes is in DNA technology. When I first started, DNA was just starting to be talked about. It has become so commonplace now and so advanced that we’re solving crimes all the time, even off of touch DNA.”
Goodwin also commented on the role social media plays in law enforcement today. “I think it’s both a blessing and a curse. Everybody’s got a camera now, and nobody can do anything without videotaping themselves or taking a picture. We’ve seen people show off their stolen goods on social media and try to sell them, so that’s a big advantage.”
In his time a chief, some of the biggest changes in the types of cases the department tackles have occurred on the drug front. “It wasn’t too many years ago where we talked about the heroin overdoses. We don’t have heroin overdoses anymore. It’s moved into the fentanyl, and now they’re mixing that with other drugs and so, if you’re doing that, it’s not if you die, it’s when you die.”
Highs and lows
It still needles Goodwin there is one unsolved homicide that took place on his watch, but he also recalls a high point when the department solved a case based on video evidence discovered by a child. “The family had moved into a new home and the child pulled out a drawer in the bathroom, looked underneath it and found the DVD taped to the bottom of the drawer.”
The video, which contained evidence of what Goodwin called “some horrific child abuse,” allowed police to track down the perpetrator, who is now in prison.
What’s next?
“Ideally, I’d like to find 10-15 acres out in the middle of nowhere. My wife hopes there’s a pond, so she can fish. But, just us and the dogs and we’ll be good.”
The chief’s future goals are fairly simple. “I wake up at 6 a.m. every morning. If I can sleep in until 7 a.m., that’ll be quite an accomplishment.”
Goodwin is confident he is leaving the department in capable hands. “My replacement, Tessa Pahovey, will be the first female police chief in New Phila. I can’t think of anybody better to take in on than her,” he said.
Goodwin said he will not miss being chained to a cell phone that could ring at any time. “I will miss the people, though, because I work with the greatest bunch of guys and gals. Every day we get up, put our uniforms on, come to work and do what we are supposed to do. And we hope we make this a better place to live.”