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Star swears in Tim Haines as police chief; departing chief Hessing offers parting report
Summary
Council swore in Lieutenant Tim Haines as Star’s new police chief. Chief Deputy Zach Hessing delivered a final report highlighting increased proactive activity and response-time performance below the city goal.
Star City Council swore in Lieutenant Tim Haines as the new police chief on Oct. 7, 2025. Chief Deputy Zach Hessing delivered his final report before handing leadership to Haines and highlighted the department’s recent activity levels and response-time goals.
Hessing recounted August statistics and said Star continued to meet its emergency response goals: “Our response time was 3 minutes and 27 seconds, on average for the month of August,” he said, noting the four-month rolling average was about 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Hessing credited increased proactive policing for a rise in traffic stops and calls for service compared with the prior year.
Introducing Haines, Hessing described his career and the department’s community focus. Haines then addressed the council and public, saying he supports proactive, community-oriented policing and looks forward to serving Star. Sheriff Clifford offered congratulations and said Haines has strong support from county law enforcement.
Why it matters: leadership transitions shape department priorities and operating partnerships with Ada County; Haines’ stated emphasis on proactive and community policing signals continuity with recent practice.
What’s next: Haines assumes duties immediately as the sworn chief; the council and sheriff pledged continued interagency cooperation on regional policing and traffic safety.
