New Logan City Police Chief
Families, boy scouts and police officers gathered on July 18 in the Logan City
Council building, ready to celebrate Jeff Simmons’ swearing in as Logan City’s new police chief.
Council building, ready to celebrate Jeff Simmons’ swearing in as Logan City’s new police chief.
After Simmons was appointed as Logan City Police Department’s new chief, former police
captain Curtis Hooley was then ratified as the department’s assistant chief.
captain Curtis Hooley was then ratified as the department’s assistant chief.
“It’s overwhelming; you never truly know how much people support you, love you, care for you,
until you get into an event like this,” Simmons said. “When I see all these guys — I didn’t invite
them. I didn’t ask a single soul except my daughter, and then to have support like that — that’s
when you know, maybe somewhere along the way, you have done something good.”
until you get into an event like this,” Simmons said. “When I see all these guys — I didn’t invite
them. I didn’t ask a single soul except my daughter, and then to have support like that — that’s
when you know, maybe somewhere along the way, you have done something good.”
Before Simmons was sworn in, he opened the city council meeting with noting the importance of
always recognizing the importance of protecting the constitutional liberty of Logan’s residents —
along with the continual respect and courtesy of its police officers.
always recognizing the importance of protecting the constitutional liberty of Logan’s residents —
along with the continual respect and courtesy of its police officers.
“For all the great men and women doing a difficult service, I trust them, and that trust grows
every time I see them treat even the vilest of offenders with kindness, decency and respect,”
Simmons said in his opening remarks. “These peace officers are true guardians of our
community and will be needed and counted upon to be a light, safety and security in an ever–
darkening world.”
every time I see them treat even the vilest of offenders with kindness, decency and respect,”
Simmons said in his opening remarks. “These peace officers are true guardians of our
community and will be needed and counted upon to be a light, safety and security in an ever–
darkening world.”
After his opening ceremony, the Logan City Council ratified him, where he then stepped up to
take his oath of office.
Logan City Council member Tom Jensen said, “We all want him to succeed and have
confidence that he will succeed. And he’s already built a good relationship in the community
within the department. He needs to be not only a guy that can shoot a gun, but more so can
build a relationship with people.”
As the department has recently had several appointment changes, Simmons said that he’s
excited to get back to keeping Logan safe — and one of the main facets he will emphasize in
his department is courtesy and peace from police officers.
“We’re always called law enforcement officers — that’s great, that’s a component of it,”
Simmons told the Statesman. “But really, our mandate is ‘peace officers,’ and all that entails.”
Even when arresting individuals or engaging with those that may be disrespectful, Simmons
added, he encourages all the officers to be kind and open.
“Our officers are really good at that, honestly; they show great patience — they’re very, very
good at using force only as an absolute last resort,” Simmons said. “I think that’s a lot of what
our country needs is a lot more common courtesy, a lot more civic dialogue.”
The Logan City Police Department will also focus its efforts on community outreach, Simmons
said, with a particular emphasis on updating the department’s website, speaking to the public
about what police officers do and having open conversations with communities of color.
said, with a particular emphasis on updating the department’s website, speaking to the public
about what police officers do and having open conversations with communities of color.
“We’re always willing to come and listen, take the heat, whatever it takes to get to know them,
them to know us — that we’re human beings, that we have far more in common than we ever do
apart,” Simmons said.
Jensen agreed that Simmons’ leadership and the Logan City Police Department’s new outreach
programs will promote peace and unity.
“He is a very proactive about building relationships with the community before people become
criminals, you know, playing basketball with the kids over at the gym, or going out to the park —
just meeting with the people in the neighborhood,” Jensen said.
One of the best ways community members themselves can make Logan a safer city would be to
lock their cars and doors, Simmons said, citing cases of car burglaries and break–ins.
“Preventative things are what’s going to help us the most — certainly report, if you see
something, say something, or tell us if something looks odd — it probably is,” Simmons said.
“And that will help our quality of life throughout the city.”
Jensen added how he has confidence that Simmons will help continue to build trust in Logan’s
communities, creating a safer environment for people to report crime and call in when they’re
concerned.
“I think if we trust the department, we will be more apt to call on them,” Jensen said. “That’s a
big deal.”