For the week of November 13 - 19, 2002

When retirement equals a box of doughnuts

Nevland celebrates 22 years as chief

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum Police Chief Cal Nevland is closing in on the last two weeks of his 30-year police career.

Nevland will trade his badge Nov. 30 for some well-earned time hunting and fishing in Idaho’s backcountry. But first his friends, family and colleagues gathered last weekend, at the American Legion Hall in Ketchum to toast and roast the retiring 57-year-old chief.

A shotgun was presented to retiring Ketchum Police Chief and avid bird hunter Cal Nevalnd, left, by Assistant Police Chief Mike McNeil. Friends, family and colleagues gathered over the weekend to bid Nevland a happy retirement. Express photo by Willy Cook

 

Several jokes threaded the afternoon, including cracks about Nevland’s political struggles with the Ketchum City Council and mayor during his tenure.

After being presented with two round-trip tickets to the Bahamas "where the mayor will be escorting you on a bonefish fishing trip," Nevland quickly asked, "Which mayor?"

The comment, which alluded to Nevland’s struggles with Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon, was met with uproarious laughter.

Several friends also spoke about the chief’s stubborn disposition, but Nevland was quick to try to refine the perception.

"I don’t think I’m stubborn so much as I’m determined," he said.

That determination helped the chief win bouts, both involving personnel issues, with the Ketchum City Council in 1992 and with Simon last summer.

The chief received a number of gifts, the most notable, perhaps, a box of doughnuts from former Ketchum City Administrator Jim Jaquet. The aforementioned Bahamas trip, a new shotgun, a plaque mounted with his badge and a certificate from U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth were several other gifts.

Conspicuously absent from the affair were any of Ketchum’s city council members or mayor.

In submitting his retirement late in September, Nevland suggested the city conduct a search throughout the West for candidates with at least five years experience in "upper management of a police department in a community similar to ours."

"This would bring new ideas, while Assistant Chief (Mike) McNeil has knowledge of what has worked in the past," he wrote.

Nevland said he has watched the Ketchum Police Department grow from five officers and a part-time secretary to a staff of 22.

"Law enforcement has become more of a profession than it was 30 years ago," he said. "It’s far more sophisticated than it was in the early ’70s."

But police practices did not constitute the only changes.

"The community, of course, has changed tremendously," he said. "I mean, 10 years ago it was a completely different community. There’s no comparison."

Nevland said his immediate retirement plans are to take some time off, before looking for a more relaxing and less visible job.

And, for the avid bird hunter, some days under Idaho’s big blue sky are inevitable.

"I promised my dogs that, before we’re all completely over the hill, we’re going to do some serious bird hunting," he said.

Simon said the city has received resumes from 37 applicants in 16 states for the position of chief.

"We have people from Florida, California, Washington, Oregon, Utah. They’re really from all over; some highly qualified people," he said.

This morning, the city council and a citizen panel is meeting to wade through the resumes, but Simon said the meeting will be an executive session, closed to the public, because of the sensitivity of personnel records and to protect the current jobs of those who applied.

Simon said the city should conduct interviews early in December.

 

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