Former Windham Police Chief Eric Breiding is planning his semi-retirement after quietly stepping down from his Windham post late last year.
Breiding resigned Oct. 29 after serving the community since 2010. Council accepted his resignation Oct. 31.
Before rising to police chief in 2013, Breiding served Windham as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant and detective.
“I just did a job,” Breiding said. ”It wasn’t about me. I was just an employee. It was an easy job to do when you worked with the people who were there.”
In his resignation letter to Mayor Scott Garret, he said he “will truly miss serving this community.”
“My goal from the beginning was to leave this department better than I found it,” he wrote, “and I believe together we have accomplished that.”
After the murder of George Floyd, Breiding ensured his officers received Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement courses focusing on bias and the mental health of officers. Days before his retirement, he praised Hope Town Recovery Housing for its service to the addiction recovery community.
Breiding envisions moving to Florida to play golf and teach in a community college. Until plans are solidified, he continues to work a couple days a month with the Newton Falls Police Department. The part-time gig is necessary to retain his police commission, he said.
Windham Village Council Member Cheryl Belknap recalled Breiding attending and participating in community events, including a school-based Halloween party and “Night Out,” an annual nationwide event meant to strengthen bonds between police and the communities they serve.
“He was always good. We wish him the best,” she said. “He just moved on and did what he wanted. He was good for the community and he’ll do good wherever he’s at, whatever he’s doing.”
Breiding was succeeded by former Windham school resource officer Rick Garinger, who served as interim chief until he was sworn in as chief on Jan. 30.
“He just wanted to move onto other things,” Garinger said. “He turned 55 and Covid hit, and he said ‘I just want to get out.’”
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.