AMERICAN FORK — Police Chief Lance Call is stepping down later this month, city officials announced Tuesday.
Call's tenure as American Fork police chief began in November 2005. He was previously a spokesman for the West Valley City Police Department.
“It’s with mixed emotions I announce I’ll be leaving to pursue some other opportunities,” Call said in a statement.
City spokeswoman Audra Sorensen said Call emailed his staff Monday night about his impending departure.
American Fork Police Lt. Sam Liddiard will temporarily take over some of Call's responsibilities. Call officially steps down May 25.
An interim police chief will likely be appointed later this week, and the search for a permanent replacement is set to begin soon, Sorensen said.
“I have enjoyed a great personal and professional relationship with Chief Call. He has been one of my most trusted colleagues,” American Fork city administrator Craig Whitehead said in a statement. “Chief Call is intelligent, strategic, and he has a wonderful dry wit.”
Sorensen also praised Call's work Tuesday, saying he left the department better than he found it. She said Call established high hiring standards for officers, instituted a citizen's academy at the department and upgraded enforcement of drug crimes in American Fork.
"We’ve got a great team of (officers), and he’s trained so many of them so well that the city’s in great hands," Sorensen said. "We just appreciate him so much."
— Ben Lockhart