Posted Thursday, December 16, 2021.
From left: Administrative Capt. Andy Ellet, Assistant Chief Chris McCutcheon, Chief Cory Boxell and Mayor Richard Strick.
HUNTINGTON – The City of Huntington has selected Cory Boxell as the Huntington Police Department’s new chief of Police.
Boxell is a well-respected veteran of the department who is approaching his 19th anniversary of joining HPD as a patrolman in February 2003. He has earned several promotions since, working as detective for 11 years and a supervisor for more than six years in his roles as detective sergeant and detective captain.
Boxell was sworn in as Police chief during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Huntington City Building. With the mayor’s full support, Boxell has named Chris McCutcheon, a 17-year HPD veteran, as assistant police chief. Andy Ellet, a 20-year member of the department, will serve as administrative captain.
“There has been tremendous and overwhelming support from my fellow officers for myself as well as Assistant Chief McCutcheon and Captain Ellet,” Boxell said. “We want to thank them for their support and hope to serve them and the community well.”
Recruiting and retaining the best officers will be a key focus as he adjusts to his new role, he said.
“It should be noted we have done a tremendous job over the last several years of hiring good, young officers who are also quality people. I think it will be important for us to focus on the retention of those officers so they become truly vested in our community. This will help us to maintain and build upon the public trust that we currently hold,” Boxell said.
Citing Boxell’s personal integrity, the respect he has earned from his fellow officers and the collaborative approach to problem-solving he’s exemplified over his nearly two decades with the department, Mayor Richard Strick said Boxell is the right choice to lead HPD forward.
“Chief Hacker had tremendous success during his tenure of effective hiring and making sure officers were well trained and equipped to do the difficult work involved with law enforcement in the 21st century. Cory’s experience and leadership ability will enable the Huntington Police Department to continue that growth,” Mayor Strick said.
Boxell was born in Warren, Indiana, and has been a lifelong resident of Huntington County. He and his wife moved to Huntington after getting married in 2001.
He said what he enjoys most about Huntington is its small town feel and the respect with which residents treat one another. He appreciates the opportunity he’s had to live, work and raise a family in a community like ours.
“Huntington is a strong community with a sense of purpose and unity,” he said. “Our department greatly appreciates the love and respect our community shows to their law enforcement partners, and we as a department want to reciprocate that sentiment. We want to enhance and build on those relationships in any way we can as we serve the residents of this community.”
The HPD leadership team’s top priority continues to be protecting and serving the community.
“First and foremost, our goal is to continue to assure Huntington is safe, secure and the best version of itself it can be,” said Capt. Ellet, who has also served as a patrol officer, school resource officer, K-9 handler detective and sergeant during his career with HPD.
Assistant Chief McCutcheon said he will continue to support the Huntington Police Department and Chief Boxell by helping its officers always be at their best. McCutcheon also started as a patrolman and has held positions as an instructor, detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, captain and administrative captain with HPD.
“We will work hand in hand to provide officers with the training and equipment they need to safely do their jobs every day, and we will provide transparency and continue with our Citizens’ Academy in 2022 allowing citizens to get an even deeper look into how the Huntington Police Department operates,” McCutcheon said.
Chief Chad Hacker retired from the Huntington Police Department on December 10 after a 22-year career that began in 1999. Then-Mayor Brooks Fetters selected him as Chief of Police in October 2014, and Hacker successfully guided HPD and the Huntington community through a challenging period for policing throughout the nation. He recently accepted a position with the federal government in Fort Wayne.
“Chief Hacker begins the next chapter of his career with our full gratitude and appreciation,” Mayor Strick said, “and we look forward to the Huntington Police Department continuing to strengthen its resolve to serve and protect this community under Chief Cory Boxell.