New Police Chief Hits the Ground Running

In his new position as city of Glasgow Chief of Police, Rob Weber is getting straight to business.

"I want to get back to where we were as a community policing department," Weber told The Courier Monday. "Short term goals, there are things we need to work on like policy and procedure and updating that to help us achieve our overall goal."

There also is a shortage of manpower currently as two patrol positions are now vacant.

"We've got one guy who looks promising, and he needs to go in front of the police commission to get confirmed. Other than that, kt is getting people hired and starting with the day to day business."

One of the open positions is the mid-level management sergeant position Weber formerly filled.

"That is something Assistant Chief Tyler Edwards and I are looking at," Weber said. "We've got guys who are potentially capable."

Hiring from within existing ranks may be an option, especially since it provides opportunities for newer patrolman to climb the policing career ladder, Weber said.

"I like the fact there is incentive. You can start as a patrolman and there is incentive for me to move along and advance my career. I would like to keep it in house, if you get the right candidate."

Weber also would consider hiring from without the department if that were a wiser course of action, he said.

However, "now might not be the time to fill" the open Sergeant position, weber said. "Down the road, we might look at it."

Upward mobility is something weber knows well. He joined GPD as patrolman at the age of 20, and has worked nearly all positions within the department during his 16 year tenure.

"I worked my up," he said. "I then became the training officer, and did firearms instruction and some other stuff and TASER instruction. Then I became the School Resource Officer for four years. From there I was the community resource officer, during that time I got into the public information stuff. I became the public information officer and went through all the courses for that. I have pretty much had every job here."

When asked what his favorite part about being a cop was, Weber responded, "I don't know. That is a tough question. There are a lot of parts I like about being a cop. The biggest thing, I think, is dealing with the different types of people I get to interact with on a daily basis."

Interacting with the public, and forming long term community relations, is a goal Weber will pursue, he said.

"Absolutely. Assistant Chief Edwards and I have a plan we want to move forward with that heavily involves community policing and integrating our officers within the community. We want to be that face people look to when they need help."

Since GPD began pivoting towards a more community oriented policing earlier this year, Weber said he has noticed a shift in how the department is perceived by city residents.

"It goes in circles with the national media and law enforcement. But, in Glasgow, we have always been lucky because we have been community based. The majority of people are really good people, just in bad situations. A lot of it is about positive interactions. We are here for them regardless what the issue is. It could be something such as, 'hey, its cold out and my car wouldn't start. Could I get a ride?," up unto 'somebody is trying to hurt me and I really need help.' We just want the community to know we are going to be there for them regardless of what is going on."

Robert Weber was recently appointed by the Glasgow City Council as police chief. He is slated to be sworn in by city of Glasgow Mayor Becky Erickson during the next regular council meeting, rescheduled to 4:30 p.m. Monday Sept. 27. Erickson abstained from the vote to confirm Weber, citing the end of her term as Mayor. She is not seeking re-election.

Weber was chosen from a pool of more than 30 candidates who applied for the position after the termination of former Chief Brien Gault in late May. Gault had been with GPD for about 30-years. The reason or reasons for his termination have not been released to the public, and he has not commented on the matter.

In late June, the city council voted to accept applicants for the job from both within existing GPD ranks, and from without. The council encouraged current GPD officers to apply for the position while advertising nationally for about the next month.

Both then Sgt. Weber and Capt. Tyler Edwards applied for the position. Edwards and Weber said they both welcomed outside competition for the position, noting they wanted to earn the position, if chosen, fair and square based on their experience and qualifications.

The Glasgow City Council in August formed a scoring committee to consider candidates who applied for the position. The candidates were whittled down over time by the scoring committee, which included former GPD Officer, Chief of Police and City Judge Emery Brelje, Rod Karst, Todd Young, Stan Ozark, Butch Heitman and Lisa Koski.

The scoring committee subsequently determined the top five candidates from the pool. The finalists were later interviewed.

Last week, three candidates remained, including Weber and Edwards.

"I don't know who the other candidates were besides Tyler Edwards, but we have had in depth conversations about what would happen moving forward regardless of who got [the position], him me or somebody else."

The two have an excellent working relationship already established, Edwards said.

"Tyler and I have worked together pretty closely for the last 12 or 13 years. I was actually his training officer when he started. We get along pretty good and have a lot of the same ideas. We have different ways of doing things, but our end goal is the same. We want what it is best for the community."