Chief’s Monthly Summary
A law enforcement career brings with it many experiences. Being in my 32nd year in policing, I have seen my fair share of events. And, as I enter the twilight of my career, my goal is ensuring that this agency, and the men and women in it, are prepared for the future. I am confident in saying that the future is bright. Allow me to elaborate.
This month, we investigated a murder. This is not a common occurrence for us, so when they happen, it is a big deal. Captain Hipps was the incident commander for this event. He did an expert job managing the investigation. He made good decisions that contributed to our success in arresting the suspect.
Our investigations unit, led by Lieutenant Bonanno, did an incredible job collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and identifying the suspect. They did all this within hours of the shooting. And, while the suspect was not arrested for a week post shooting, the speed at which our detectives solved this case was incredibly fast. Their skill is impressive.
The patrol officers, who are always first at every incident, took the proper steps to make the scene safe for first responders, protect evidence, and protect the victim’s body. The work that they do daily is always done at the highest levels of professionalism. I am frequently impressed with how our officers inject excellence into nearly everything they do.
We are also working hard to fill our sworn vacancies. We interviewed two young women recently to become police officers. I am amazed at their commitment and dedication to a difficult profession. Both seem highly disciplined in their personal lives, and I am excited to see how that will translate into their professional lives as Police Officers.
My highest priority right now is hiring police officers and filling our ranks. Policing is not an easy job to obtain, nor should it be. This is the only profession where a Police Officer has the legal authority to take a person’s liberty and life; sometimes with only a millisecond to decide. This is a tremendously heavy burden for officers to carry. Given this, it is critical that we hire people who live the values we hold important: like professionalism, respect, and integrity. It is those values that drive an Officer’s ethical decisions when they are alone at 2am on the side of the road. 
I hold committed to you that we maintain the highest hiring standards. Doing that though means that we pass on hiring someone who might not live our values as well as someone else. I hope I have your support and understanding that the right person is more important than a person. I promise to hire officers that will continue to meet your expectations and serve with excellence.
One Team, One Goal. #MountainExcellence
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