March 29, 2024

Get to know Baxter’s new Police Chief John Hicks

Baxter’s Police Chief John Hicks started at the department in May. He came to Baxter after working in Florida.

Education and experience in law enforcement: I hold an MS in criminal justice with a focus on critical incident command from Saint Leo University. I attended the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course at the University Louisville, Class 130. I also have graduated from Florida State with the designation of certified public manager.

I have been in law enforcement for 25 years. I have held the position of sSergeant, lieutenant and captain prior to retiring and moving to Baxter. During this time I have supervised and commanded units to include, special services, special operations, vice and narcotics, internal affairs and many other smaller specialty units within those divisions.

Why did you choose law enforcement as a career path?: I decided to enter law enforcement when I was 18. I had graduated high school when I was 17 and was looking for something to do professionally. At around the age 18, I was working in a mall-based restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla. While there, many of the local officers would come in. Over time we spoke and they influenced me to explore the career field.

I would have to say that the biggest influence on my pursuing law enforcement was my family. They always encouraged me to do what was right and to help others that may not be able to help themselves. Having been taught this from an early age, this seemed like a logical profession to explore.

What brought you to Iowa?: I was drawn to Jasper County because of the geographical location of it as well as a desire to experience a quality of life I have not experienced due to living in Florida my entire life. When the position of police chief was posted I did a significant amount of research on the town and the county. The more I learned, the more excited I became about the possibility of becoming employed here.

Ultimately though, the citizens of Baxter convinced me to come here. During the interview process and since then, I have been blessed to have been welcomed with open arms and made to feel as though I have lived here my whole life. It is because of the citizens that I moved here. Their kindness and generosity are what motivates me to be the best chief I can be for them. These great people deserve nothing but my absolute best effort.

How did you select the position of Baxter Police Chief?: What made me want to fill the position of police chief was actually two things. The first thing is that the community is beautiful and the citizens are wonderful people who work hard and inspire me each and every day. Secondly, I wanted to utilize my experiences to professionalize the department and build a reputation within the community and Jasper County as being a top-notch police department that can be counted on when called upon. The citizens and city leadership deserve to have a dependable and engaged law enforcement agency.

What goals do you have for the Baxter Police Department?: Moving forward, I have several goals for the police department. First, I want to professionalize the department and make it an environment that attracts highly qualified candidates. Secondly, I want to make community policing and problem-oriented policing the core mission of the department. Third, in time, I wish to institute a volunteer in policing program and also start a chapter of Law Enforcement Explorers. This will allow the youth of the community to have an avenue to determine whether or not law enforcement is a career they may want to pursue.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, I want to develop a culture within the department that motivates officers to come to work and provide the best service possible to the citizens of Baxter. Within this goal is also the desire to implement a succession plan for when I eventually retire a second time. I would feel as though I met my goals if I can hand the agency over to a professional who would be invested in the community and continue the good work we will be doing.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com