Northville Township Manager and Director of Public Safety Todd Mutchler named Scott Hilden to the top police post in the community and Hilden was officially sworn into his new position during a ceremony at township hall Dec. 6.
Hilden previously served as chief of public safety and emergency manager at Washtenaw Community College. He served in that capacity for five years and oversaw a department of seven sworn officers, 34 non-sworn officers and staff. As chief of public safety at the college, he oversaw the entire campus community of 21,000 students enrolled in credit classes.
Hilden was also responsible for emergency operations planning and was leader of the crisis management team at Washtenaw Community College.
Hilden and Tennies will continue to work together during a two-week transition term as he learns the nuances of the Northville Township agency. Tennies is retiring from public service after 19 years at Northville Township Police Department.
“Chief Hilden is the right person to fill the big shoes that Chief Tennies leaves,” said Mutchler. “Northville Township will benefit from his experience keeping communities safe and offering exceptional customer service while doing so.”
Prior to joining Washtenaw Community College, Hilden spent 24 years with Canton Township Public Safety, most recently as deputy chief of police from 2013-2016. In this capacity, he supervised the patrol division, overseeing a team of 82. He also was president of the Canton Command Officers Association from 2006-2013, assisting with union issues, including contract negotiations.
Hilden said he specializes in collaborating with the community. At Canton, he created a “Partners in Your Safety” program that established a bridge between the department and citizens, businesses, neighborhoods, churches and schools.
Community policing is a long-held interest of his, he said, as far back as his early days as a school resource officer. When he was a sergeant from 2003-2006, he brought the “A Child is Missing” program to his department to locate missing children and vulnerable adults which used a high-tech telephone broadcasting system to call 1,000 residents per minute. He also created the “We Nail Thieves” program to reduce construction site theft. This program was a collaboration between Northville Township, Plymouth Township, Canton Township and Crime Stoppers.
“We welcome Chief Hilden and look forward to his skills in helping us serve the needs of our community,” said Northville Township Supervisor Mark J. Abbo.
“From what I have seen, this organization seems to be exceptional,” Hilden said at his swearing-in ceremony. “I'm very happy to be part of the team. I'm going to do the absolute best job I can and I look forward to working with everybody.”
Northville Township Police Department has 34 sworn officers. The agency operates a Public Safety Answering Point, which receives emergency and non-emergency calls for Northville Township and the City of Northville. The center is operated by 10 civilian Public Safety Officers.
“The residents of Northville Township are in good hands with Chief Hilden on board,” Mutchler added.
