Hilliard Police Taps Columbus Command Again for Deputy Chief
27-Year Law Enforcement Veteran Kelly Weiner Joins HPD Leadership Team
The Hilliard Division of Police has again tapped into the command structure of the Columbus Division of Police to find a deputy chief.
Kelly Weiner, a 27-year law enforcement veteran, has been named deputy chief of the Hilliard Division of Police, a role she will officially step into on March 31.
Weiner succeeds Ron Clark, the division’s former deputy chief, who retired earlier this year.
Weiner, like Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods, arrives from outside the Hilliard Division of Police, and also from the Columbus Division of Police.
Woods was a deputy chief at the Columbus Division of Police when City Manager Michelle Crandall in August 2021 named him as deputy chief.
At the time, he succeeded then deputy chief Eric Grile, who had been promoted to police chief, with the known intention of promoting Woods to chief upon the expected retirement of Grile.
“I'm excited to welcome (Weiner) as our new deputy chief. Her proven leadership, law enforcement experience, and commitment to serving the community make her a great addition to (HPD). Deputy Chief Weiner will play a key role in advancing our mission,” Woods said.
Weiner began her career with the Columbus Division of Police in 1997 as an officer.
She was promoted in 2004 to sergeant, and in 2008 to lieutenant.
Weiner was promoted in 2010 to commander, overseeing Special Victims, Internal Affairs, Professional Standards, and Crimes Agaisnt Persons bureaus.
Weiner was named deputy chief in 2022, leading functions that have included the Patrol, Support Services, and Public Accountability subdivisions.
She is a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College, the Police Executive Leadership Institute, and is the first sworn female from CPD to attend the FBI National Academy.
Weiner graduated in 1996 from The Ohio State University with bachelor’s degrees in criminology and Spanish.
She earned her MBA from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2017.
Hilliard is “fortunate to be bringing on such a dedicated and experienced leader” as the next deputy chief, Woods said.
“Throughout her career, she has shown a commitment to growth and professional development. Her breadth of experience, proven leadership and commitment to service made her the standout among the applicants for this role. I am confident her leadership and experience will have a positive impact on the Hilliard Police and the Hilliard community,” Woods said.
Weiner said she looks forward to getting started in Hilliard and the next chapter of a nearly three-decade career in law enforcement.
“Leading by example is ingrained in my leadership philosophy, and I am enthusiastic about the prospect of contributing to HPD’s core values,” Weiner said.
Her background is pretty great