The Woodstock municipal manager and the Village Board of Trustees have selected Joseph Swanson as the next police chief for the Woodstock Village, serving 900 residents.
Swanson, who was sworn in July 14, grew up in Woodstock and currently serves as the sergeant for the Woodstock Village Police. He originally joined the Woodstock Police Dept. in 2000 as a part-time officer where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science.
In 2007, he became a full-time officer and was promoted to corporal in 2013, before being promoted again to sergeant in 2014.
In addition to his work with the Woodstock Village Police, Swanson served in the Vermont Army National Guard from 2005-2012 including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. Swanson holds an MBA from Franklin Pierce University and serves on the boards of The Homestead, the Windsor County Special Investigations Unit and the Woodstock Select Board.
Swanson, the son of the long-serving town manager, Phil Swanson, who died in 2019, is taking Chief Robbie Blish’s position, who is retiring after 12 years in Woodstock.
Swanson was hired from nine applicants. He’ll be paid $102,000 for his new role.
“I am honored to be chosen as the next chief of police and am excited to lead the department and continue to work with the community,” Swanson said.
