Police Chief Retires

[ConnerCop]

Congratulations to Chief Smith on the announcement of his soon upcoming retirement. He has been a great Chief for the citizens of Roswell and the Department as well. Best of luck to you sir!

[Rumpole]

Yes, congrats & enjoy your retirement chief. Great at first but you'll miss LE. With your background there will be many positions in private business available to you if you get bored.

The RDR front page article of July 28, 2010 lists his 33 years in LE. 5 years with Provo, UT PD starting in 1977. In 1982 he went on the Utah Highway Patrol. Interesting about closest back-up being 30 - 40 miles away. I've heard old timers on the CA Highway Patrol say the same thing (new guys usually got assigned to the remotest areas). That's alittle hairy when you stop a carload of bad guys at 3AM in the middle of nowhere with your closest back-up that far away. 1982 - 1988 Highway Patrol. In 1988 he took a job with the FBI in Roswell as a SA (per RDR).

Impressive career. Master's degree PLUS excellent experience.

He probably went to the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. first. No better LE academy than that. The academy training is 18 weeks now. After graduation assignment to an FBI field office. Now the probationary period is 12 months for veterans and 24 months for non-veterans. He started as a RPD patrolman in 1989. RPD was fortunate to get such a well trained officer with local, state and federal LE experience. Says alot for RPD that they can attract an FBI SA to join their ranks as a patrolman. There was probably quite a difference in pay and benefits at the time. Starting pay now for new FBI SA's going thru academy training is $43,000. FBI's loss was RPD's gain.

The new city mgr will have a challenge finding an equally qualified replacement.

[Billy Wood]

Hello to all just to let you know:

State Rep. Dennis Kintigh starting August 15, 2010 will be Roswell's acting Chief of Police until the new City Manager locates one or until January 2011.

[Daisy]

Thanks for the info, Billy!

I like it, I like it a lot!

[Rumpole]

Will Capps appoint Kintigh to that position?

[Billy Wood]

Dennis is not an applicant for Chief of Police, Dennis took it upon himself to contact the city and offered to stand in as acting Chief until a new Chief can be located.

Dennis cares about Roswell and its Citizens and is doing what he can to help make any transition the city faces go allot smoother. I think this is a win for Roswell.

I want to thank State Rep. Dennis Kintigh for his time and willingness to help Roswell and the Citizens in a time of need.

Thank you Dennis

[Daisy]

So Mr. Kintigh volunteered for this, huh? I'm impressed that he stepped up like that to help the city and fill the vacancy left by the retiring Chief.

Thank you, Mr. Kintigh!!

[Rumpole]

Yes, thank you Mr. Kintigh. As a temporary city employee and department head will you report to Mr. Capps as your supervisor?

[oladcock]

Good deal! Thanks Dennis!...

"As a temporary city employee and department head will you report to Mr. Capps as your supervisor?"

Maybe on paper...Not a fat chance in hell in reality...O.L.

[Saw]

The only person that can hire anyone at the city is the city manager so Capps had to hire Kintigh. According to the paper Kintigh will not be on the city payroll but will be on a temp force payroll.

Kintigh will be working for Capps until he retires and then for the temporary city manager until a new one is selected. The council/manager form of goverment that the city has now states that the city manager "supervises, hires, and fires all municipal employees." In my opinion, a real dumb way to run a business.

[rover]

Rob Smith was an excellent RDR chief, and came with high pertinent credentials. Was very sorry to learn he's decided to retire, and the timing was bad. Roswell needs him! Hope we can get another for that position that comes close to being as likable yet competent and qualified.

We do have good people within the RPD ranks who have shown a loyalty to Roswell, if only by staying here! But I cannot, at least at the moment, think of a single officer who could adequately fill that position.

[jjfergie]

Yes, the silly manager, I mean the city manager is suppose to hire and fire, however, when a couple of councilors, (Henderson and Craig) take it upon themselves to seek one through some underhanded ways and through John Capps without involving Art Sandavol, who is the chair of the RPD committee, then we need to step back and ask ourselves what the heck is going on here! They should have involved him in some of this as well, but for some reason, some of these guys don't feel like they need to follow proper prodical. Just a few more years folks, and maybe we can replace a few more, I hope.