The Street Committee: Is this Promotion a Set Up?

When Police Chief Stoney Mathis announced last year that he planned to step down in 2026, he framed his tenure not as a long-term appointment but as a necessary season of stabilization. “Now things are slowing down a little bit,” he said at the time. “We’ve kinda got at least a vision to where we wanna be over the next two or three years, so probably over the next year, I’m gonna be making my exit and turning this police department over to somebody that can take it to the next five to seven years.”

Mathis, appointed in 2023 by Mayor Skip Henderson, stated from day one that he was a fixer — a bridge to a more permanent future, not the final destination. His mission was straightforward: reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve quality of life.

Now, with his anticipated departure inching closer, the department’s leadership landscape is shifting.

In recent weeks, 23-year department veteran Lance Deaton was elevated from deputy chief to one of two assistant chiefs. In this new capacity, Deaton will oversee Patrol and Investigative Services — the department’s largest and most influential divisions. His most recent assignment placed him at the helm of Investigative Services, a role that kept him close to both violent crime trends and departmental strategy.

It’s a meaningful promotion. And around Columbus, the street committee is asking the question that isn’t yet being asked publicly: Is this move positioning Deaton as the next chief of police?

Promotions at this level rarely happen in a vacuum. With Mathis already on record about his timeline, the reshuffling appears to signal preparation, continuity, or perhaps even a quiet succession plan. City Hall hasn’t confirmed any intentions, and Mathis has said nothing beyond his original announcement. But within policing circles — and among residents who follow these shifts closely — Deaton’s rise is being read as more than routine administrative housekeeping.

Whether this is grooming, guessing, or government strategy, one thing is clear: as 2026 approaches, the future direction of the Columbus Police Department is already being sketched. And the street committee will be watching every line.