Hagar deserving of police chief title

We are pleased to see that the nationwide search for a new chief of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department has narrowed to fewer than 10 candidates. Starting from more than 30, it’s safe to assume these are the best of the best. 

And they will need to be. 

Given the success our police had in reducing crime under the leadership of Lee White, who retired as police chief in January, this will be a critical hire. This town supports the police, not just with words but with funding. Coeur d’Alene invests heavily in its police department, with an annual budget exceeding $20 million and a staff of more than 100. Our police department is a major reason this is considered a safe place to live and a desirable place to call home. 

City leaders must take the necessary time to find the right person for this role. But we don’t think they need to look far. 

Capt. Dave Hagar has been the interim police chief since White left. He has been with the department for about eight years and is one of the applicants still in the running. We believe he has the experience, knowledge and leadership skills to take on the top police job with the city. He has proven himself within the department and in the community. He knows the ins and outs of Coeur d'Alene.

Hagar and White worked together at the Mesa Police Department in Arizona. White was instrumental in Hagar's joining the Coeur d’Alene Police, which has worked out well. Hagar provided a steady hand as captain and again as interim police chief. At The Press, we appreciate his responsiveness to our calls. That’s something we always appreciated about White. He did not dodge our phone calls. If he didn’t pick up, he promptly called back. Hagar is the same way. When we call with questions, he responds. That is not always the case when it comes to media and law enforcement. 

Since White’s retirement, Hagar has stepped up, and police have continued to do an excellent job of preventing and reducing crime and responding quickly when it happens. Police also do well at connecting with the community, which builds residents' confidence in the police and encourages them to report suspicious activity. In a way, citizens become the eyes and ears of law enforcement. We see this as a positive development and hope it continues.

As the city winds down its search and begins the interview process for its next police chief, we believe they'll agree the right man for the job is already here. We hope to see Dave Hagar as the top cop in Coeur d'Alene soon.