Police chief will be stepping down at end of year

Published 3:46 pm Saturday, February 21, 2026

After 24 years with the Oberlin Police Department, including 16 years as police chief, Chief Grady Haynes has announced his retirement effective at the end of this year.

Haynes, 62, made history in 2010 when he was elected the town’s first African American police chief. He originally joined force as an officer in 2001 after moving to the area to be closer to family.

Reflecting on his career, Haynes said, “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve my community for the last 24 years.”

His interest in politics and public service began early in life delivering push cards and knocking on doors for former Atlanta mayors Andrew Young and Maynard Jackson.

“Coming from Atlanta, Ga. to a rural parish in Louisiana, the structure of politics was totally different,” he said. “Coming from a city where divided households were normal, I found myself embedded in a community where the head of the household was mostly dominated by the male of the household.”

“When I decided to run for the chief’s position in 2010, I would visit throughout my community,” he continued. “A lot of the elderly citizens that I visited would tell me that they appreciated what I was doing in the community and appreciated my candor. It was then that they expressed to me that they believed in my platform and my honesty; I was told that they believed in me and I could count on their vote. I was also told that they would rather I not put a sign in their yard. They explained that here in Oberlin, they were treated differently because of political affiliations. Some asked that I not tell their husbands.”

Haynes continued to knock on doors, but quickly shifted his strategy to chance encounters at dollar stores, ballgames, and social functions.

“I understood that understanding the community in which you live is essential to bringing progress and change,” he said.

Haynes believes the political landscape has evolved, shifting away from campaign spending and toward the strength of an individual’s platform and character.

“It’s no longer how many signs that you have out or how much money is spent for elections,” he said. “An individual can stand on his or her platform and win an election by the strength of their personality and what they can offer to their community. This makes the playing field fair for those that can’t generate the major funds that others can.”

As he prepares for retirement, Haynes emphasized that equality and fairness remain the foundations of any political system.

He expressed hope that his contributions have made a positive impact, stating, “I would like to think that my passing through this little town, making my small contribution to the betterment of my community, would encourage others that they can be a part of change,” he said.

Looking back on his career, Haynes said he never initially planned to become a police officer.

“I was always trying to find myself, even in high school,” he said. “I  just wanted to be an asset to my community, but I didn’t know what it was. I followed God’s footsteps and he brought me 800 miles from Atlanta to here before I realized what my niche was.”

His interest in law enforcement developed while working corporate security in Atlanta for a national beverage company, hotel chain and a local electric company.

“I got in it, I liked it and the leadership qualities came out,” he said.

Haynes expressed that he has enjoyed his role as chief because it allowed him to lead and mentor others in the field.

“I just wanted to be the best chief I could be and lead the department,” he said.

During his time in office, he focused heavily on community relations.

“I wanted people to be able to put a friendly face with an officer,” he said. “I have always trained my men to be good in the community and respectful. There’s a lot of stuff on television that just makes us look bad….I think I’ve done a good job bridging that gap for our community. We have brought a respect to the community that you don’t see in the bad things on TV.”

Haynes said the hardest part of retiring will be leaving his employees, his co-workers and other colleagues.

“I’ve met some great people, and had the pleasure of enjoying every minute of it,” he said. “A lot of people just want you to sit down and listen to them or ask for advice, I really enjoy those times.”

Following his retirement, Haynes plans to stay in Oberlin to fish and spend more time with his grandchildren.

His advice to the next police chief, who will be elected this fall, is to continue pushing the department forward and listen to the citizens.

“I’d like to see it better than I left it,” he said.