Cape force veteran named police chief

After a four-month nationwide search, the Cape Girardeau Police Department has chosen one of its own as its new police chief.

Capt. Steve Strong, 53, a 25-year veteran of the force, was named to the position Wednesday at a news conference held by city manager Michael Miller.

"He was the most qualified candidate, it's as simple as that," Miller said.

But the choice ran afoul of the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association, which recommended Bellevue, Neb., police chief Hines Smith for the position. Association leaders said their independent background check revealed Smith to be a "go-getter," a leader who would stand up for his officers and get them the equipment they need, but they are unclear on what Strong plans to accomplish.

Association president Curtis Session said he plans to sit down with Strong and discuss the new chief's goals for the department.

"We are going to have to deal with the chief we have, but we are not being listened to again," he said.

Strong, who has served as a captain and assistant police chief since 1989, was one of 55 applicants and four finalists and was the only finalist from within the department.

"I believe in leading by example," Strong said. "I believe that sergeants should work harder than patrolmen, lieutenants should work harder than sergeants. That means the police chief should work harder than anyone."

Strong begins his new duties immediately and will earn a salary of $62,500, Miller said.

Community background

Miller, who passed over Strong when he was a finalist four years ago, pointed to Strong's community background, including his previous and former positions with local civic organizations such as SALT/TRIAD, the Aging Task Force, the Kiwanis Club, VFW, and the Safe House for Women.

"He's grown as a candidate since then," Miller said. "He has more of a feel for the position as chief now. I was really impressed with Steve's knowledge of police work."

Miller said that Strong's residence in the county -- long thought to be a problem for Miller, who has said he prefers department heads live inside the city's limits -- was not a factor.

"In Steve's case, he has been a longtime resident of the area, and he lives on his family property," Miller said. "I do not feel the need to force him into town."

Strong takes over a department in flux. The former chief, Rick Hetzel, left in June. A month later, a $43,000 evaluation of police department operations was released, and the preliminary draft suggested that morale was damaged by out-of-touch management that was inaccessible to officers.

"There is that perception," Strong said about morale being poor. "That has been issued as a concern. Combating that perception is what I want to do. Efforts are being made to do just that, and I think we're taking a step in the right direction."

Strong, who has been interim chief since Hetzel resigned, said that includes doing his utmost to be open and accessible. He said he is waiting for the final draft of the report, due out soon, to talk specifically about which recommendations he will take.

Management style

He said his management style was somewhere between that of his two predecessors. Howard "Butch" Boyd was widely thought to be hands-on and sometimes worked on the street, but Hetzel was thought to be more administrative and a manager.

"I understand that the job is both police work and an administrative position," Strong said.

He would not contrast what he may do differently from Hetzel.

"I have worked for a lot of years for many police chiefs," Strong said. "Hopefully, I have learned from every one of them."

Strong holds a bachelor's in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University and has a graduate certificate in corrections from Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

The Bellevue chief told the Omaha World-Herald for a story Wednesday that he was in salary negotiations with Miller, but they were about $15,000 apart. Smith's salary is $79,416. He didn't return a phone message Wednesday.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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