Friday, September 12, 2008

Lyman was actively recruited for Salt Lake job

Emergency management expertise was a plus for Ketchum police chief


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum Police Chief Cory Lyman, right, poses with Idaho Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter during last summer’s Castle Rock Fire. Lyman’s experience in incident command during the three-week fire was one of the reasons he was selected as director for Salt Lake City’s Emergency Management Program.

Salt Lake City officials actively recruited Cory Lyman to direct their revamped emergency management program, in large part because of the Ketchum police chief's incident command experience during some 20 days of last year's Castle Rock Fire.

"Some emergency managers have never been through an emergency. We appreciate the fact that Cory had that kind of experience," said Lyn Creswell, Salt Lake City's chief administrative officer.

Lyman, a former Salt Lake City police captain who has served as Ketchum's police chief for five years, announced his resignation last week. He has been selected as director of Salt Lake City's emergency management program, an executive-level position that reports to Creswell who in turn reports to Mayor Ralph Becker.

Creswell said Salt Lake City revamped its emergency preparedness organization this summer, elevating the directorship from an administrative to an executive-level position. That done, the city initiated a nationwide search to find the right person for the job.

"We were looking for someone who had some command-level experience," Creswell said. "Somebody suggested that I should contact Cory Lyman and see if he was interested. So I called him about a month ago."

Creswell said Lyman was also selected because of a proven ability to coordinate emergency-response activities with federal, state and county officials, volunteers and other communities.

"I was chair of the selection committee," Creswell said. "I made the recommendation and the mayor approved it and we extended Cory a job offer."

Lyman starts his new job Oct. 20. He will continue as Ketchum police chief until Oct. 17.

Creswell is a Boise native and frequent visitor to the Wood River Valley. As such, he is well acquainted with the impacts that the August 2007 Castle Rock Fire had on the area. The fire raged for almost three weeks, threatening Ketchum, the Bald Mountain ski area and other Sun Valley-area recreational assets.

"During the fire, Cory was a very important player," said Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall. "He was right there at my side for three weeks.

"Cory's real strength is that he's respected in the community. When it came time to evacuate half of Ketchum, both the residents and other authorities trusted his leadership. He's a big figure and a smart guy and everyone trusted him."

Furthermore, Hall said Lyman's expertise in communications was vital to emergency response during the fire.

Hall said he's sorry to see Lyman leave the Ketchum police force, but he's not surprised by Lyman's decision.

"We always understood that Cory had a good five years here and that at some point he'd probably move back to Utah," Hall said. "But I am sorry to see him go."

In Salt Lake City, Lyman will develop and implement citywide emergency plans to deal with natural disasters, hazardous materials spills and terrorism.

Lyman's new annual salary of $93,500 is lower than the $110,380 he earned per year as Ketchum's police chief.

Creswell said the difference, however, will be offset by an automobile allowance, bonus incentives and other compensation.

"He'll be making the equivalent of what he's making in Idaho," Creswell said. "I don't think it's fair to say he's taking a pay cut to take this job."




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