VIDEO: Interim Corbin Police Chief discusses policy changes, future of department

Less than a week into his term as interim chief of the Corbin Police Department, retired Kentucky State Police detective David Campbell said he plans to apply for the job on a permanent basis, but stressed that right now, he is focused on fixing some problems in the department.

In an exclusive interview with the News Journal on Monday, Campbell talked about applying for the job of Police Chief, some of the changes he had already implemented since being sworn in as interim and how he plans to go about fixing some of the problems in a department he said is in “pretty bad shape on the inside.”

“I am here on an interim basis only right now, but I do have an application idling,” Campbell said. “That’s on down the road though and it just depends on how things turn out here.”

Since being sworn in on Friday morning, Campbell said he has made an effort to meet every officer possible and even rode along with several of them during their weekend shifts. He said the response has been a good one and that things are going smoothly so far.

“So far, everybody has been positive and everyone has been very receptive to the changes,” he added. “I told some guys the other day that I am going to be as transparent as possible in the transition phase and I think that’s the best way to be.”

Campbell was sworn in during Friday’s special called City Commission meeting in front of a small crowd of city workers, and shortly after he talked about the job in front of him as interim chief.

“It’s going to take time, but this department needs some help” Campbell said. “The police department here, they look good on the outside, they look good and healthy, but they are in pretty bad shape on the inside. They are not on life support yet, but they’ve got some problems that will be fixed.”

As for now, Campbell said he has made some minor changes when it came to security and a few small procedural matters.

“Basically, some of the things I have changed is the security here,” Campbell said. “I know you have to have security, but not as tight as it was. For example, one of the doors to the radio room, which led out into the police station, you had to punch in a code and that was a little of an inconvenience when you needed to go in and get some paperwork.
“So, I have opened the place up a little bit in a few ways,” he added. “The dispatchers had been working basically in a tomb and they couldn’t tell you the weather outside if they had to, so we are going to see about getting a window put in there. They were all pretty positive about wanting a window and changing the door.”

Another change Campbell said he was making is the policy regarding officers being able to eat together outside of the station. He said he didn’t have a problem with officers doing that, citing the fact there would always be another officer available to answer a call in that situation.

As for others also interested in the position of police chief, Campbell said he was aware that current officers are interested in becoming chief, but he had nothing but positive experiences with those interested.

“There has been no problem at all with anyone,” Campbell said. “I think a couple of them had shown some interest in becoming chief and there is no problem at all.

“They’ve got a lot of time with this department and to be honest, I really don’t know how long I’ll be here,” he said. “It just depends on if the men want to keep me on. Right now, I don’t have an agenda as to how long I will be here but I will try to do my best while I am here.”

Campbell mentioned several things he will try to spearhead, from possibly training for a school shooting situation at the old East Ward School building to reestablishing a program where officers do K9 presentations at local schools. Campbell even mentioned allowing spouses to ride along with officers from time to time.

“I know you’ll go home and your wife or girlfriend will want to go out and you are too tired,” Campbell said. “They’ll say ‘well you just drove around and did paperwork all day, why are you tired.

“I’d like to, down the road, let the spouse come down here and ride around with her husband for a few hours,” he added. “There will always be other units out, no pursuits, no felony stops, but this would be to let them to see what these guys go through from day-to-day. They can drive by and see what’s going on and if it gets really bad they could drop them off at the street corner and we’ll pick them up.”

Campbell said once he gets started with the changes he feels will make the department better, the officers will be more visible and community friendly for everyone.

“I don’t know how many people in the city could tell you the names of more than two city police officers,” Campbell said. “We want to become more visible and be there for citizens because we are their police department.

“We also want to be more approachable for children, because they need to have a positive opinion of us” he added. “So many kids only see the police when mom or dad are getting in some kind of trouble and who knows what they say about us when we leave.

“Like I said, it will take some time but we will work on things as we go a long,” he added.

Former chief Carson Mullins retired on Feb. 6 after serving 22 years as chief. Mullins said previously said that he felt the time had come for him to retire. Mullins had worked for the police department for most of his adult life, starting at the department when he was 21 years old.