Cooperative spirit is alive and well

Editor,

As I monitor my police radio both on and off duty, I marvel at the cooperative spirit of all the emergency service agencies in Lake County.

When I first came to Polson as your Chief of Police three years ago, people often, half-jokingly, said, "How's your retirement job going?"

First of all, I did not come to Polson for a retirement job. I dreamed for many years that this would indeed be the last best place to finish out a career in law enforcement. When your very capable former Chief of Police Ron Buzzard announced his retirement, I jumped at the chance to apply.

While I knew there would be a steady number of calls, with the summer months being the most hectic, I was not prepared for what I experienced. Lake County has to be one of the absolute busiest counties of any comparable county's population and demography statewide.

You, the residents, are blessed with all agencies pulling for the common good of its citizenry. Whether it is Lake County Sheriff, Tribal Law Enforcement, Montana Highway Patrol, or City Departments of Mission, Ronan or Polson, not a day goes by that we do not interact. There are no turf issues — just solve the problem at hand.

As for fire, ambulance, and the quick response unit, it just does not get any better.

Doug Chase

Polson Police Chief