Three Years at the Helm: Columbus Prepares to Say Farewell to Police Chief Stoney Mathis

CPD plans Oct. 14 celebration honoring a chief whose tenure brought reported crime reductions and stronger staffing — but also controversy over policing practices, leadership decisions and his own words.

After more than three years leading the Columbus Police Department, Chief Stoney Mathis is preparing to say goodbye to the department he has led since May 2023.

The Columbus Police Department will host a farewell celebration for Mathis on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Public Safety Building, 510 10th St.

Mathis arrived in Columbus as interim police chief in May 2023 following the controversial departure of former Chief Freddie Blackmon. He was named permanent chief later that year.

From the beginning, Mathis said his mission was straightforward: build relationships and reduce crime.

His tenure included reported reductions in major crime, increased officer pay and improvements in staffing. Mathis has also emphasized proactive policing and greater interaction between officers and residents.

But his time at the helm has not been without controversy.

Mathis took over a department and a community still divided over Blackmon's departure. During Mathis' tenure, questions also emerged about aggressive or proactive policing practices and whether some areas of Columbus were being over-policed.

One of the most significant controversies came in June 2026 following a deadly confrontation between police and a suspect accused of killing a Dollar General employee. After the suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire that also wounded a police officer and a police K-9, Mathis made a statement to reporters declaring that someone who commits murder and then shoots police officers would be killed by police.

The remark drew criticism from community leaders who questioned whether such language was appropriate from the city's top law enforcement officer and whether it accurately reflected the legal standards governing police use of deadly force.

The controversy added another chapter to what has been an eventful tenure — one that supporters may remember for falling crime, stronger staffing and an emphasis on proactive policing, while critics have raised questions about policing philosophy, accountability and rhetoric.

Now, as Mathis prepares to leave, Columbus will have an opportunity not only to recognize his service but also to reflect on the department he inherited, the changes made under his leadership and the debates that accompanied them.

Mathis' final official day with CPD will be Dec. 31, 2026.

The Oct. 14 walk-through celebration will allow CPD employees, residents and community partners to personally wish Mathis well. Guests may stop by at any time during the two-hour event. Cake and punch will be served, and a food truck will be available with meals for purchase.