City of Charlestown appoints new police chief after retirement

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city of Charlestown will have a new police chief at the start of the new year.

Charlestown Police Chief Tim Wolff is retiring after 22 years in law enforcement.

"Tim Wolff has been an excellent Chief for our department," Mayor Treva Hodges said in a news release. "His approach to leadership has ushered the Charlestown Police Department through some extremely challenging times precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive impact he has made over his many years of service will carry us into the future as we grow and it’s been an honor to serve with him for the last four years."

Wolff helped increase the department's number of officers to 18.

"Working with the mayor and the city council, the police department has been able to obtain 21 percent salary increases for our officers over the last four years and add the 17th and 18th full-time officer positions," Wolff said in a news release. "Plus, the addition of the vehicle fleet lease program, new black and white vehicle design, and having a positive culture and work environment."

Lt. Eric Kruse was swore in on Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting. Kruse will take the role of Chief of Police on Jan. 1, 2024.

"I’ve always wanted to be a police officer for as long as I remember, dating back to when police officers intervened and saved mine and my sister’s life when I was a child," Kruse said in a news release. "The last few years of my career at Charlestown, I have been passionate about training and developing younger officers around me."

Kruse was sworn in as a full-time officer for the department in 2015. He was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and lieutenant in 2023.

Sgt. Jonathan Roederer will assume the role of Assistant Chief at the start of the year. He was hired as a full-time officer in 2015 and promoted to sergeant in 2023.