There seems to be a lot of speculation surrounding the exit of the Police Chief. If you look at his record over the past 6 years, little has been accomplished. Sex trafficking is on the rise, drug crimes and murder is on the rise, panhandling is out of control and body cams still have to be implemented. There is also still no physical fitness plan for the police like there is for the fire department. I wouldn’t call Matt Burns tenure a complete failure, but he certainly hasn’t achieved much more than putting himself into a higher pension bracket.
I have also heard through city hall moles that there have been several complaints filed against him for basically just warming a chair, not just from citizens but internally from other officers, and mayor stoneless is well aware.
I’m hoping they will do a national search for a new chief, but we know how the sh!t runs down hill in the Police and Fire Department. So it looks like a Chief Barthel 3.0 is in store for us.
“….Sex trafficking is on the rise, drug crimes and murder is on the rise, panhandling is out of control and body cams still have to be implemented…..”
Gee, all a guy has to do is add zombies to this list, then I think Mr. Z has a chance as mayor in ’22. #WheresChick-fil-A?
Historically, police and fire chiefs have retired soon after reaching the top. It’s like any other civil service job. You get there, stop working, and wait for a perfect time to retire. Police need better training and body cameras. There’s not an appropriate ethics recourse or annual individual reviews. Given recent national race friction, drug trafficking, and gun violence there’s a need for new training methods.
Word is he is retiring on his own terms, also the PD body cameras were fully deployed at the beginning of ’21. If you are going to push a hit piece, at least try to get your facts straight. Or get better “moles”.
You are partially correct, only certain officers are using them as a test, and the PD hasn’t pursued accreditation even though the FD has had it for years.
Why do you wish for a “national” search for a Chief of Police? Just curious…
The biggest reason we keep police officers within specific precincts is to allow them to grow and become attached to community, which then allows them to grow close to the people, create relationships, and work together as one.
I would think you want someone that has grown up within the “Community”, who knows the people, who knows their habits, their traits, their whereabouts, cause then its much easier to do the job itself.
I would not trust someone from outside the community, let alone the State of South Dakota. I do not want to attract “Big City Problems” such as in Chicago, New York, L.A, Sanfrancisco, etc-etc.
Groom your own “Citizens” to become Good Cops, promote the great ones, and from that candidate list, nominate the best, most loyal, most attractive, most people friendly, officer friendly, who has a great record, to become your “CHIEF”.
– Mike Zitterich
Mike, this August I will have lived in this community for 30 years, much has changed in that time period, especially with crime over the past 10 years. I think it will take an outside person with the expertise in our growing crime problems to fix this. Besides, nobody seems to blink an eye that we recruit officers from all over the country. Why not a police chief? Even Noem said on Hannity the other day she welcomes officers from other parts of the country, and I agree with her. This is why I think Dr. Chima will make a good public health director, he will bring a new perspective instead the same old entrenched beliefs. I think we have learned a lesson from the past 2 police chiefs in which crime has only risen (and faster then population growth) we need some new blue blood in Sioux Falls.
Officers should come from the community. Chief is somewhat political so hard to find a candidate. Good to hear body cameras are being implemented. Good evidence in court and other reasons. One idea that could be deployed here is officers given incentive pay if they own/rent a home in a problem community. It’s done in a few cities with mixed results.
Scott, you made some excellent points, but I still would like to see a homegrown candidate for Police Chief, perhaps someone from elsewhere from within the State even.
What do you all think of Sierra Broussard as Police Chief, how many of those ‘reports’ on the Police Chief? ummm..