New chief optimistic for future of department

Ronan’s new chief of police, John Mitchell, is still reeling from being appointed to his new position.

“I’m sort of numb still,” Mitchell said. “[It’s] still sinking in.”

As the most senior officer in the department, he was chosen to replace former chief Valent Maxwell, who was removed from his post in early January. Mitchell said fellow Ronan officers have been positive about his new role and are happy with the change the city council made in hiring him to lead the charge into the future.

Mitchell has lived in Ronan off and on for the past decade. He said his experience in the Mission Valley is one reason why he knows he will do well as the new chief of police.

Admittedly, the past five months have been hard, he said.

“It’s real tough,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got a high crime rate and a high call volume.”

Mitchell has hope that things will get better and he said they already are on the way there. He said the department is currently working on the way they file and follow-up on documents.

What the department really needs is more officers, according to Mitchell. With one in the academy and one out with an injury, the city has just three officers covering all of the shifts.

Mitchell said the real improvements will come when all five are patrolling the roads.

Meanwhile, he said he has to rely on county and tribal law enforcement for help.

“I think it’s going to be a good working relationship. I’ve never had any problems with them,” Mitchell said. “Matter of fact without them we’d be in a bind. Tribe and county have backed us up a lot in the past few months. We couldn’t ask for more than they’ve given.”

While he said couldn’t comment on problems within the department that led to Maxwell’s firing, Mitchell said his sights are set on the future, not the past.

“I look forward to the future and I think things are going to be a lot better than what they were,” he said.

He sees good things down the road. At the end of March, the department’s new officer will graduate from the police academy.

In six months’ time Mitchell said his department will be more organized and back on their feet, but in the meantime he hopes the community is understanding of their situation.

“Bear with us and give us some time to get on our feet,” he said. “We’re doing the best that we can.”

For now, the three officers including the newly appointed chief will continue to work extra hours and long shifts. Mitchell said he works close to 60 hours each week, donating his time rather than getting paid and that other officers do the same.

“We try and we take a lot of calls and we do the best that we can,” he said.

In an interview last week, Mayor Kim Aipperspach said Mitchell will be a better fit for the position and a better fit for the community.

“It’s not going to be a surprise like it was for the other guy. He knows the problems that we are dealing with here,” he said.