SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city took its first step toward establishing a police department Tuesday night when it appointed Gary Hicken as its first police chief.
City manager Ken Leetham said it's an important move as the city's growth is expected to take off within the next three years.
City Council members discussed with Hicken the vision they have for the police force.
"I feel that the cities around Utah County lack a personal relationship with officers," said Councilwoman Mia Love.
She hopes that won't be the case for the police force in Saratoga Springs.
"One of the things I really felt was really important about having our own police department is actually having people we know, people that we can trust and people that we can depend upon, and if there's something that's going on, they become part of the community instead of just enforcers," she said.
Hicken told council members he aims to have the police force out walking and talking with the community, rather than spending all their time in cars.
Councilman Scott Kahn said he hopes to not only hire the best police chief, but also the best officers.
Hicken said that will be tough since the pay will be average for the area. As the budget for the department is tentative at this stage, that may change.
A former police chief in California, Hicken has lived in Lindon for the past eight years.
He said he knows he will face different challenges than the big-city crime he is well acquainted with but told council members he is ready to take on the challenge of getting the city's police department up and running.
"He really, really enjoys a challenge," said the new chief's wife, Kathryn Hicken. "He is not lazy; he is one of those people who will work and work and work and will get enjoyment out of it."
Another of the many qualities Hicken said makes him the man for the job is that he is a good strategic planner.
"Strategic planning is really critical when developing a police department from the ground up, from the paper clips to visions and objectives," Hicken said, adding that he also is a team player and has good people skills.
Hicken said the new police department would focus on small group "team" policing, with a more general focus on preventing more serious crime as the city grows.
"Usually I avoid the term 'law enforcement' and I call it police service, because that's really what it is, it's a service organization."
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