Police and Fire Chief Scott Hephner. | Collegian Archives 

After announcing his retirement last month, Hillsdale Police and Fire Chief Scott Hephner now plans to postpone his departure until February 2026 to help search for his successor.

“I made an agreement with the city that I’m going to continue my appointment for a few more months to help them through the process of getting my replacement and then transitioning that person,” Hephner told The Collegian. “I have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months.” 

After talking with Mayor Scott Sessions, Hephner decided to delay his leaving. Hephner previously submitted a letter to the Hillsdale City Council Nov. 6, announcing his retirement, which would have begun Dec. 1. 

Hephner has served as Hillsdale’s police chief since 2014 and fire chief since 2016. According to Sessions, Hephner has been with the police department for 38 years. 

The Public Safety Committee met Nov. 25 to discuss the search for Hephner’s replacement and agreed to post the opening for police and fire chief. Though the town charter lists police chief and fire chief as separate positions, Sessions said the committee will look for a candidate who can do both jobs. 

Police and fire chiefs must be certified by the state of Michigan. Ward 4 Councilman Joshua Paladino said it will be “slightly more rare” to find someone who is certified both as a fire and police chief. 

Paladino said that, although the combined role of fire and police chief saves money, he thinks the roles of fire chief and police chief should be divided so the interests of both departments can be represented separately. 

Paladino said there will be a “learning curve” for Hephner’s replacement to catch up to Hephner’s “wealth of knowledge” from his decades of service. 

“Chief Hephner was always a professional, very cordial,” Paladino said. “He would give his opinions, but didn’t let disagreements cause any tension. He served the city well.”

Sessions said he congratulates Hephner on his upcoming retirement and is grateful for his service to the residents of Hillsdale.  

“His dedication, commitment, and unwavering professionalism have set a standard that will continue to guide our community for years to come,” Sessions said. “Chief Hephner has been a steady hand, a trusted leader, and a true example of what it means to serve with integrity.”