Change in Force

After 28 years of service as a North Oden Police Officer, five of which were as chief of police, Chief Quinney has decided to retire and enjoy the good life! He has served the citizens of North Ogden with dedication and passion. I wish him well and express my gratitude for the impact he has made on our community.

As we began the search for a new police chief, the question was asked: “What are the attributes we are looking for in the individual that will replace Chief Quinney?” It was concluded that we should seek someone who has the confidence to build a police force that’s more formidable than their own career and whose purpose is to help each member of the police force reach their potential. To do this we agreed that most of the following characteristics should be defining qualities of the individual who is hired.

• Trustworthy – Trust is essential in developing relationships. We want our officers to feel they are working in a safe and collaborative environment.

• People-valuing – We want someone Purpose-driven – We need someone who can continue to provide clear direction, and motivation to do what’s right and has a goal to unify the police force and our community.

• Citizen-centric – The police chief needs to have a high priority in satisfying the needs of the citizens in our community and keeping our community safe. I love the statement that I’ve heard Chief Quinney say again and again, “Remember when a citizen calls, they are calling because they have an issue that is important to them.”

• Approachable – Humility allows for an environment that’s open and inclusive and encourages people to share their ideas, hopefully resulting in an attitude of continuous improvement. We don’t want someone who already knows everything and is unwilling to listen to others.

• Foresight – Of course, we want a chief who avoids knee-jerk decisions, who has a long-term vision, and who incorporates the core values of our community in making decisions. It is anticipated that our community will grow to over 40,000 residents in the next several decades. Preparing for the future and listening to those around them is an important characteristic needed in the new chief.

So about now, you may be thinking we are looking for Superman to be our next chief. No, what we are really looking for is a servant leader. We realize not all the above attributes may be found in one individual, but hopefully, our leading candidate has the potential to develop additional characteristics that may not be currently present.

By the way, I would encourage each of us to consider incorporating the above characteristics into our everyday lives. It’s good to serve others.

Mayor Neal Berube