Document text
SUNNY Temp: 60 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, August 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 6, 2003 Talent�s new police chief, Bob Rector, says he is ready to take on issues that affect the quality of life in the small town. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Talent chief cites safety New police leader puts quality-of-life issues at the top his of to-do list By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Talent’s new police chief, Bob Rector, brims with enthusiasm for the community he has joined and says he will focus on maintaining the qualities that attracted him. "I love this place," he said. "Living here and working here — it’s really nice to be here." After taking the reins July 21, Rector, 46, plans to make quality-of-life issues a priority for the 10-person policedepartment. Bolstering park patrols, building teams to deal with violence and sexual abuse in families, keeping up with growth and getting the department accredited top his to-do list, he said. Advertisement "Quality of life and parks have been concerns for the council for as long as I’ve been here," City Manager Betty Wheeler said. "There is an intent to have the department be responsive to citizens and have an internal focus not on high-profile cases but on the things that are important to citizens." Rector said he feels lucky to land in a good department that is respected among its law enforcement peers. "This is a very healthy organization with no need to rebuild or revamp," he said. "I can just build on what’s going on." As Rector settles into the chief’s office, he’s studying the department’s policies, procedures and goals. Next he plans to pursue accreditation to prove that all the paperwork is up to par and officers work the way they’re supposed to. "With accreditation, the community can be reassured that the police department meets professional standards," he said. Rector also wants to make sure the department meets the expectations of Talent’s residents. He’s listening to community concerns such as dogs on the Bear Creek Greenway and skaters without helmets at the skatepark. "If folks don’t feel comfortable, they won’t use the parks," he said. "Safety is very much about how people feel. You could point to all sorts of statistics, but what matters is if people think they can go to the store or take a walk at night." The department doesn’t have enough officers to monitor parks full time, he said, but it can team up with volunteers or other agencies to make the most of patrols. Rector said he also wants to build teams to deal with domestic violence and sexual abuse — crimes that happen at home and can be common issues for police in bedroom communities like Talent. He said Talent officers will continue to work with multi-agency teams that include child-welfare organizations, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, and others. "Families dealing with sexual abuse and violence need a team approach with a social service component," he said. "We don’t have all the resources so we have to link with others." Rector plans to make the most of the city’s resources to handle growth. Since a building moratorium imposed by a lack of water was lifted in January 2002, development has surged and population is expected to boom. That will bring a growing need for police services, he said. About Bob Rector Title: Talent police chief Education: Associate’s degree in management from Hawaii Pacific University. Bachelor’s degree in business from University of Central Texas. Master’s degree in international affairs from Troy State University. Experience: 1976-96 — U.S. Army military police, substance abuse counselor and civil affairs. 1996-98 — Gold Beach police department patrol officer. 1998-2003 — Gold Beach police department chief. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times