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PROVO — Police officers in Provo will begin the new year with a new boss on Wednesday. After a nationwide search, Chief John King is taking over the department after the previous chief resigned.
King comes from Maryland and said he has no previous ties to Utah, other than being attracted here by the state's scenic beauty. He's actually been on the job for a few days now and is happy with what he sees.
"I have shown up to things unannounced, and I have been very impressed with the level of professionalism and dedication of the staff here," King said.
King got the job in November, after a nationwide search for a new chief. Originally from New York, he's previously been a police chief and a director of a police academy in Maryland.
"I was vetted pretty thoroughly, and I have had good conversations with the mayor, and we are on the same page philosophically," King said.
His priority, he said, will be on keeping the community involved, including citizens and business leaders, in crime prevention.
"It's really (about) engaging the community in problem solving, not only on an officer front; about having geographical responsibility for calls for service; and mainly to form the partnerships the city of Provo is known for anyway," King said.
It's a high bar to continue to meet with a high level of safety here, but that is a challenge I am excited about.
–Chief John King, Provo PD
But he knows serious crime can happen anywhere, even in Provo.
"There is always concern for police chiefs across the country, and the threat of what we term ‘an active shooter' — that is every community's worst nightmare. That was one of the first things I checked when I came here, that we are ready for that," King said.
Still, with a low crime rate and a city where people do feel safe, King says his focus will be to keep it that way.
"It's a high bar to continue to meet with a high level of safety here, but that is a challenge I am excited about," he said.
King said there will be no specific DUI checkpoints in Provo on New Year's Eve, but extra officers will be on patrol in the city looking for impaired drivers.
