On Orfordville police chief considering contract extension

Posted on July 25 at 10:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Over my 35 years in LE I have had the honor of creating several police departments, revitalizing several others and improving the others I have had the privilege to serve. It’s not about who’s better, we should all do the very best we possibly can. Nothing is impossible to achieve is the lesson I took away from serving in the USMC. How you perceive small town policing depends on whether or not you are a small town product. I was and had great respect for the three coppers who patrolled my small town. I guess as a teenager I made fun of them, but grew older to respect the dedication they gave to our community. In a small town you have a “buy in” to the community. You want to see the community and people in it do well. You usually work with them to solve problems and a lot of time these are permanent solutions. You are usually a little softer with your approach as you usually see the people you serve, correct, and even arrest, sitting across from you when you eating lunch in one of only several restaurants a small town can support. I certainly know how to be a tough-guy, Marine Corps taught me that part, but then our citizens aren’t the Cong and don’t need to constantly see me flex my mussels. What they do need is to know that we care about their safety and well-being and that I would and will give my life for them if I were called to. Show them that and they won’t even resent you when you feel it necessary to issue a citation or arrest them for something. Give them your respect and work hard to earn theirs. It’s not the money spent which most people have issue with. It’s usually what they receive for the money it cost. I know I pay more for a Cadillac and I feel good for the value it provides. When I take issue with the Cadillac is when I go out to drive it and it doesn’t start or runs poorly. Cheaper is not always better, nor is high price always what works better. Test drive it, kick the tires, challenge it to deliver what you expect and demand for what ever money you intend to spend. When it performs to your expectations your find that money takes a lesser measure of importance. Sheriff’s Deputies, local Police Officers. Serving in this day and age is a tough balancing act whatever color the uniform. Who serves where matters less then who serves well. I sure hope that all of us LE officers in Rock County continue to serve well where ever we are called to. I witnessed first hand the results of all of us working together when Footville had their bank robbed last year. What I feel worse about is that someone would make a statement that there’s bad blood between Footville and Orfordville. Heck we share the same churches and high school. Maybe the next generation will feel differently if I serve my best. Our two small communities combined, working together, would have the potential to be as self sufficient as our neighbor communities to the north and west.