The police chiefs: Pfender, the undated chief, the long gap, Witkowski, Arendt

1921–2026 · THE SUCCESSION AT DOCUMENTED STRENGTH

Valentine J. Pfender, 1921: The first chief the record names is the directory's: Valentine J. Pfender, chief in 1921, with the Jarretts under him and the Board of Public Safety over him. No appointment or departure date for Pfender is in the record reached.

Robert Oscar Fitzsimmons, undated: One more early chief is documented, without dates: Robert Oscar Fitzsimmons, a former sandlot ballplayer, "rose to the rank of chief of police in the town," in the Society for American Baseball Research's biography of his son — Freddie Fitzsimmons, the knuckleball pitcher, born in Mishawaka on 26 July 1901 and raised in the town while his father held the office at some point in the boy's youth. The settling sources are the city directories of 1900–1925 and the Board of Public Safety minutes.

The middle-century gap: Between the directory era and 2003 the record reached names no Mishawaka police chief. The gap is printed whole, not bridged: the settling sources are the city directories across those decades, the Board of Public Safety minutes, and the Mishawaka City Council Records 1845–1977 at the Hesburgh Libraries for the earlier half of the span.

Ken Witkowski Jr., 2004–2024: The modern succession resumes in the department's hardest week: Ken Witkowski Jr. was a captain at the time of the 13 December 2003 shootings that killed Corporal Roberts and Patrolman Verkler — the roll is the next entry — and "became chief soon after," in the Tribune's account ten years on. He held the office twenty years, the longest-serving chief in the department's history on the city's own statement, across a thirty-six-year career at the department from about 1988. In September 2023 he carried the twelve-hour shift settlement; in August 2024 he retired — announced 20 August, and on 27 August 2024 he was sworn the same day into his next city office, Director of Code Enforcement, succeeding Joe VanNevel.

Alex Arendt, 2024– : Alex Arendt was sworn in as Chief of Police on 27 August 2024 at the Board of Public Works meeting — the same day as his predecessor's swearing into code enforcement, a planned succession the city had prepared, in Arendt's words, for a couple of years under Witkowski's mentorship. Arendt had served the department twenty-nine years in many capacities, formerly as Assistant Services Chief; Tim Wiley was sworn the same day as Assistant Chief of the Detective/Investigative Division, succeeding Dan Gebo. Arendt is the chief in office in November 2026.

Sources:

1. R. L. Polk & Co., South Bend City Directory (1921), as carried in the Government fragment — Chief Valentine J. Pfender.
2. Society for American Baseball Research, biography of Freddie Fitzsimmons (Gregory H. Wolf) — his father Robert Oscar Fitzsimmons "rose to the rank of chief of police in the town"; Freddie born in Mishawaka 26 July 1901, raised in the town.
3. South Bend Tribune, December 2013, as carried by Officer.com — Witkowski a captain at the time of the December 2003 shootings who "became chief soon after."
4. City of Mishawaka announcements, 20 August 2024 and 27–28 August 2024 — Witkowski's retirement after thirty-six years at the department and twenty as chief, the longest-serving chief in department history; his swearing-in as Director of Code Enforcement; Alex Arendt sworn in as Chief of Police 27 August 2024 after twenty-nine years at the department; Tim Wiley sworn as Assistant Chief of the Detective/Investigative Division.