I Hope This is Temporary...

I am a little concerned with the article in reference to the new police chief. From what I gathered, during the interview process, the interview candidates were running on a platform of change for the better. Community policing and a more efficient department is what is needed in Davenport, but now we have someone hired and claiming that he is not going to make any changes?

3-12-08 New Police Chief : Donchez Learns Davenport Ways

I hope that these are comments directed at the fact that he needs to get his feet wet before making changes, but the way this article is written it doesn’t really spell that out. It seems that Donchez doesn’t want to make major changes. For that, I would suggest that we should have just promoted someone that is already there. We pay status quo on a daily basis. We hired someone who purported to want change, because I think that’s what we need.

I was not at the open interviews or public meetings on this, and I could be wrong on what his intent was while addressing the public and the interview panel before his hire. Maybe someone that was there can comment further on the contrast between the pre and post hiring comments. My concerns are founded from this article:

1-15-08 Davenport Police Chief Finalists Emphasize Community Policing

And here is the ultimate ironic twist. Mr. Yerington, praising the man that he apologized for hiring, citing it was a big mistake, was praising Malin and making comments about a fresh view being needed. Granted, he has every right to have a beef with the administration that is currently in place, but despite the potential conflicts here, I think Yerington is right.

‘Yerington also likes the idea of new blood at the leadership level.’

“Davenport is at the point right now where an outside, fresh view is needed,” he said. “And we’re going to get that no matter who Craig decides to hire.”

It seemed that the candidates were all about changes, but now what? I hope that this new guy is kept on his toes and we truly have a positive outcome here. We need to give him a chance, but I hope it doesn’t take him long to get his feet wet and make changes that results in cleaning up some neglected areas of the city. Yes, we have a great police department, but the delivery of police protection in Davenport needs a change. If we truly are getting a fresh view, like Yerington thought we were going to get based on his comments, I hope that the fresh view doesn't disappoint us resulting in the same old routine.