CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has announced that Dornat "Wayne" Drummond has been permanently appointed as chief director of public safety.
According to a press release from Mayor Bibb's office, Drummond, who had been serving in an interim role since February, was sworn into the position on Monday afternoon.
“Chief Director Drummond is an incomparable and well-respected leader with deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to keeping this city safe,” said Mayor Bibb. “As the interim director, he has been a trusted advisor to me and a fair, transparent, and forward-thinking leader of his department. It is for these reasons that I named him Chief of Police back in 2022 and, once again, I unquestionably believe that he is the best person to serve as our next safety director.”
Drummond began serving as the interim public safety director on Feb. 23 after Karrie Howard resigned. As a result, Cleveland Division of Police Deputy Chief Annie Todd was promoted to the permanent role of chief of police.
Prior to February, Drummond spent 35 years as a member of the Cleveland Division of Police, including the previous two as chief. While serving as interim safety director, Drummond has overseen the division of police, fire, emergency management services and animal control and care.
“Modernizing operations, making data-driven investments, and forging influential partnerships has been – and will continue to be – a priority for me,” said Drummond. “While an arduous rebuilding journey is ahead of us, I am looking forward to continuing Mayor Bibb’s commitment to public safety, and making a positive impact in our divisions, with city stakeholders, and most importantly, in our diverse communities.”