By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com
NORTH MANCHESTER,IN North Manchester Police Department Det. Jim Kirk was sworn in as the new NMPD Chief of Police on Wednesday afternoon in a special Town Council meeting.
Kirk has been with the department as detective since May 31, 2016, and takes over from Steve Olsen, who assumed the role as chief on an interim basis on June 2, the day after Jeff Perry suddenly retired the night before.
He started his law enforcement career and spent the last 28 years with the Wabash City Police Department before joining the NMPD in May. He was one of 15 applicants for the position.
Four applicants were interviewed, with Kirk selected for a second interview last Thursday.
“At that time, based on qualifications and discussions that we had, we chose to offer Jim Kirk the Chief of Police job,” Council member Toby Tobias said in the meeting.
With Kirk accepting the position of Chief, Tobias suggested that Olsen have the official title of interim removed, and allow him to retire as Steve Olsen, Chief of Police, retired.
“Steve Olsen was anything but interim,” Tobias said. “He stepped up at a time of extremely great need and performed admirably.”
Kirk is looking forward to the experience as Chief of Police.
“I want the department to be a more professional department, and I think we are heading in the right direction,” he said. “We want to be courteous and keep the community safe. I want people to respect us, especially with all the bad publicity law enforcement is getting. We want to fight crime and fight the drugs.”
Kirk is married to his wife Karyl, and they have three adult children, Hannah, Abby, and Noah.
After being sworn in, Chief Kirk went right to work with two recommendations for employment.
He recommended hiring Randy Miller, who is major with the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, to be the new Detective, and Parker Stouffer, who is currently a Wabash County Probation Officer, to be hired as an officer with the department.
Both were approved to start with the North Manchester Police Department on August 2.