Rutland Police Chief James Baker has announced he’ll step down at the end of the year to take a job as Director of Law Enforcement and Support for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, in Alexandria, Virginia.
The 58-year-old police chief says he's looking forward to new opportunities and challenges in the Washington, D.C. area and a job that he says won’t keep him in the public spotlight handling crisis on a 24-hour basis.
Baker has headed Rutland’s police department since January 2012 and he’s credited with helping turn around a force plagued with scandal, low morale and officer misconduct.
Baker also helped launch Project Vision, a successful grassroots community effort that has helped Rutland fight back against crime and drug abuse in the city.
Rutland Mayor Chris Louras says losing Baker's leadership will create a huge void in the city, but he said he couldn’t be prouder of the work Baker has done.
