Police chief announces two new officers

Iron Mountain Lake force works to 'clean up image' of city

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

IRON MOUNTAIN LAKE — The Iron Mountain Lake Board of Aldermen met in special session Wednesday night to bolster its police force. The board hired two new officers for special traffic detail. The names of the officers were not available as of press time.

Iron Mountain Lake Police Chief Michael Kemp said the new officers are much needed to a department that was a bare bones operation when he took over earlier this month.

“Our budget is very limited,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of money to work with. It’s kind of like the mayor (Jodi Niccum) said though. Just because we are a poor community doesn’t mean we have to act like one.”

Kemp said he has a plan in place to clean up the image of Iron Mountain Lake and its reputation. He said the officers that he is hiring have community policing in their hearts.

Kemp was sworn in as chief on Aug. 11. Kemp previously worked for the Ironton Police Department and prior to that served in the military.

The previous police chief, Jerry Hicks, gave his resignation to the board on July 14. He said he resigned because he received a better job offer.

Hicks became the police chief in February of 2006 and worked as a lieutenant with the department for one year prior to that. He said he has been in law enforcement for 25 years.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs