Chief of Police Mike Hardy

Mike Hardy is not a college football coach.
However, like a college football coach, Hardy has spent a good bit of time on the recruiting trail.
Since his return as Abbeville Chief of Police on July 1, Hardy has actively sought to bring new people into the department. That included a stop by the Rotary Club of Abbeville’s weekly meeting last Wednesday.
“This is happening right now,” Hardy said, “I am actively recruiting, everywhere I go. If I speak at a meeting, I’m going to ask if you know anyone between the ages of 18 and 78.
“We’re promoting Abbeville Police everywhere we go.”
Hardy took over a department that, like many in other municipalities, had a shortage of officers. Again, like a football coach, Hardy crafted a plan to best utilize the talent he had available.
“We were short when I took over,” Hardy said, “mostly with patrol officers. I took everybody, lieutenants, sergeants, everybody who has been to the academy, and put them on a (patrol) shift. They are still on that shift.”
That allowed Hardy to increase the size of the shifts.
“When I took over we had two and three-man shifts,” Hardy explained. “Now, we have five-man shifts, each with a supervisor.”
Hardy said that increased presence has led to some positive results.
“We don’t have gunshots every night of the week anymore,” Hardy said. “We don’t have shootings weekly. We have had one homicide since I have been in office. We’ve already made an arrest. It’s not a good thing, but the proper work was done.”
A positive presence is something Hardy, who previously served as Abbeville chief from 1990 to 2002, wants from his officers.
“I want the officers to ride in the neighborhoods with their windows down,” Hardy said, “where people can see them. I encourage our officers to stop and visit with people. You want them to build trust.”
While Hardy is looking to add manpower to the department, he would love to add “man’s best friend.” He said at the top of his “wish list” is a K-9 officer.
“I’m a big believer in K-9 units,” Hardy said. “I say a K-9 unit can do the work of four men. A well-trained dog can search a building in the 10th of the time and provides great security.”
Those units do come at a price.
“I have a quote from a K-9 trainer,” Hardy said. “Two K-9 units, trained, all you have to do is provide the officer...$21,000. When I first started in ‘90, that cost was $6,000.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is how the department works cold cases. That is by gathering information. Hardy said there are open homicide cases where every bit of new information helps.
“We are working them and getting information,” Hardy said. “We do have people who stop in and give more information. I have stacks of papers on my desk.
“It helps a lot.”
Everywhere Hardy goes, he’s looking for help for the department.
“Recruiting is tough,” Hardy said. “The Abbeville Police Department is looking for officers.
“I’m looking to hire anyone who is willing to better their community and serve their community.”