Mahomet's New Police Chief Unveils Vision: Staffing, Tech Advancements, Mental Health Initiatives & Future Facilities

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MAHOMET, Ill. – The village of Mahomet has welcomed its new police chief, Dave Smysor, who officially took the oath of office this week. Smysor, a seasoned law enforcement officer with 24 years of experience at the Urbana Police Department, succeeds former Chief Michael Metzler.

A resident of Mahomet for the past 18 years, Smysor is committed to building upon the department’s existing strengths. His main focus is on fostering community relationships and ensuring mental health remains a key priority within the force.

“Officer wellness is about taking care of our team and dismantling the barriers we’ve historically faced,” Smysor explained. “As a profession, we’re improving in recognizing the traumas inherent in this work, and it’s important to know that seeking help is encouraged.”

In addition to prioritizing community and mental health, Smysor is adapting to the integration of advanced technology, such as the latest Axon body cameras. These tools are set to streamline the report-writing process, potentially benefiting the entire village by enhancing efficiency.

“Where officers are needed the most is out on the street. The more time they can spend out on the street, out in the community, and the less time they’re spending in here doing paperwork, that’s better for the community,” Smysor said.

His department is fully staffed with 15 officers. In fact, he said the current building on Oak Street is at capacity. Smysor explained that an architecture team is doing a study to see if they should expand the current space, move into a different one, or build something completely new. He expects to learn more at board meetings in the next several months.