Yellow Springs Police Officer Brian Carlson, shown here in 2015, has been named the interim police chief in Yellow Springs.
Carlson named interim chief
- Published: January 23, 2017
Village Manager Patti Bates announced late Monday, Jan. 23, that current Yellow Springs Police Officer Brian Carlson has been named the interim police chief of Yellow Springs. Carlson was one of two finalists for the position, since Chief Dave Hale resigned three weeks ago.
“I love this place and I want to make a difference,” Carlson said in an interview today regarding his appointment.
Chief Carlson, who starts his new job tomorrow, is expected to serve for an undetermined period while the Village conducts a search for a permanent chief.
Carlson came to policing late, graduating from the Sinclair Community College Police Training Academy at age 48 after owning two small businesses. He came to Yellow Springs as a fulltime officer in 2010 and has been here ever since, although he has been part-time for the past two years.
Asked what qualities and talents he brings to the job, Carlson said that he brings experience in management from his business experience, which included a company with 33 employees. He also believes he brings a positive outlook both regarding Yellow Springs and regarding policing.
“I love the village and the people here,” he said.
Carlson’s appointment comes following several weeks of controversy after police dispersed the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop crowd in a manner many found aggressive and hostile to villagers. That incident culminated several years of high turnover in the department along with concerns among many villagers that officers seem disengaged from the community. In his first interview as chief, Carlson acknowledged the challenge.
“I think the task at hand is mending the relationship between police and the community,” he said.
A more detailed story will be in the Jan. 26 Yellow Springs News.
2 Responses to “Carlson named interim chief”
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I am pleased that Brian Carlson has been appointed interim police chief. He has the right kind of experience and attitude to help mend the relationships between the police department and the village. When I was working at the Senior Center, I would see him downtown fairly often – never in a police car, but always on foot, talking with people and being a positive police presence. Good luck to him (and us).
I wish Interim Chief Carlson the best, and hope that it works out well for everyone. I appreciate that our small village has its own police and fire departments. I think we should all remember to say ‘thank you’. They have difficult jobs.