By Bonnie Culverhouse
When Jared McIver announced his candidacy for Minden Police Chief, he was already working “in the trenches” with other police officers.
“I have a good working relationship with the officers,” he said. “I have a lot of training and years with the sheriff’s department and Wildlife and Fisheries.”
Officers never had to make sure McIver knew his job, and he isn’t worried that once he was in the field with officers and now he will be in the chief’s chair.
McIver said he didn’t sleep for two days following the election where he outed his opponent with 56 percent of the vote.
“Since the election, I’ve taken one day off,” he said. “It’s just because I’m excited about the position.”
Now, the adrenaline he experienced those first few days is being channeled into learning his new job and figuring ways to implement new ideas.
“The things I want to accomplish, I wanted to do them yesterday,” he added. “I’ve always been a goal setter.”
And apparently a planner.
“I see training we can be doing; I see technology we can be reaching for,” McIver said. “We are sitting on so much potential. I can see us at a whole other level.”
McIver spent years in training and has resources that will help officers.
“A retired Louisiana State Trooper contacted me, and they are holding a crime scene investigation class for patrol officers,” he said. “It’s a free course, meals provided. He said he had three positions and would hold them for us.”
Now, three officers from the Minden Police force will be attending the course in Haughton in just a few days.
“The officers are super excited,” he said. “That’s what I want to do.The more education they get … it benefits the whole department.”
McIver said he wants the city to be proud of its police officers and the best way to do that is to get out into the community.
His own experience while walking the campaign trail shows the top four concerns of citizens are – in this order – speeding, noise, exhaust and gun violence.
“I want to start holding functions publicly,” he said. “Our city is small enough that citizens should know our officers on a first-name basis. Most people don’t.”
Trust can only come from building better relationships, he said.
“We as officers must get back to the basics of getting in our neighborhoods and introducing ourselves now more than ever.
“It’s not ‘whatever I think works, should work,’” he continued. “I’m open to whatever we need to do to drive crime numbers down lawfully.”
The only thing that may make his job a little harder is lack of financing.
“You see the budget and see what you have to work with …” he said. More police cars on the street is a goal.
“Right now, all our cars are being run 24-7,” he said. “One officer gets out of a patrol car and another gets in. They are wearing down twice as fast as they should.”
Technology, such as computers in the cars will be helpful to officers by making their time more productive.
“They wouldn’t have to come back to the police station to write up reports,” he said. “They can do it in their cars while they are watching for speeders.”
McIver, as well as Mayor-Elect Nick Cox and members of the Minden City Council, will take their oaths of office at 6 p.m. December 29 at the Minden Civic Center.
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