A life-long dream comes true

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's police-chief-in-waiting says, like his predecessor, it's been a life-long dream of his to hold the position.

"I've been around law enforcement all my life as well," Lt. Brian Kelly said Wednesday, "through my father being in the business as well as other family members."

Kelly, a 14-year veteran of the department, was named by city manager Kip Padgett as the "sole finalist" for the job Tuesday night. It will be two weeks before he can officially be sworn in, succeeding Frank Hooper, a career member of the department who retired December 31 after ten years as chief.

Kelly knows there will be a lot on his plate right off the bat "but the most important thing for me to do is step in and take an overall assessment of the department and make sure we are providing the appropriate and necessary level of service to our community."

He says one of the biggest changes in police work in the city since he joined the force in 1996 has been dealing with the diversification of the population.

"The bi-lingual community that we have as well as working with more community-oriented policing and problem-oriented police functions to better target specific concerns and questions."

Kelly says he is a strong believer in community-oriented policing. That's the concept of putting officers closer to the people they serve, whether it be through occasional foot patrols, neighborhood precincts or bicycle patrols... or a combination of any or all of those.

The man now serving as interim chief - Chad White - did not apply for the permanent job.