Former resident J. Scott Finlayson has been named the new city police chief. He will begin serving April 1.
Finlayson is currently chief of police in Hoquiam, Wash. Although Hoquiam is smaller in population, his department and support staff are the same size as Springville's.Finlayson says he knows retired chief Leland Bowers and is acquainted with several officers throughout the state. He also said he is familiar with recent problems in the department.
Finlayson replaces Louis H. Fetherolf, who resigned following an independent investigation and audit into his leadership and management skills, and the department itself. He was also accused by female members of his staff of sexual harassment. The audit cleared him of any wrongdoing.
"I'm very excited about working with the Springville department," Finlayson said in a phone interview with the Deseret News. "I believe they're a very good police department. We are going to put the past behind us. I don't anticipate any major changes for the meantime."
Finlayson's employment background includes serving on the Utah State University Police Department, Brigham Young University Police Department and as a security officer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been P.O.S.T. certified in Utah and will go through oral exams for recertification the first week he is on the job.