Town promotes from within to fill chief's post

By: 
Nathan Oster

The Greybull Town Council hired a new police chief Monday night, promoting Ken Blosser, the police department’s longest tenured officer, to replace the retired Bill Brenner.

The move followed the swearing-in and seating of Mayor Myles Foley and Councilmen Chris Dooley, Gerald Crist, Jeremy Kottmann and Blaine Jolley.

Brenner announced in mid-December that he’d be leaving his post Jan. 2, 2023, to become the chief deputy coroner for Big Horn County.  He had served as the police chief since 2007.

A native of New Jersey, Blosser joined the GPD in February of 2018. He brought nine years of law enforcement experience with the Delaware River Port Authority.

A promotion to corporal followed in February 2021.  He was third in command at the GPD, working under the supervision of Chief Brenner and Sgt. Mark Dewees. 

More responsibility will come with his promotion to police chief.  Blosser said he’s up to the challenge, even if it’s coming sooner than expected.

“I figured eventually I’d want to be police chief — but I didn’t think it would happen this early in my career,” he said. “When I was working for a bigger department, making sergeant was my goal.

“When I moved here, into a small department, I figured after Chief Brenner retired, I’d move up to sergeant. But then this opportunity popped up and I put in for it.”

Blosser said he had opportunities to leave for greener pastures but chose to remain with the GPD because he likes the Greybull area and felt loyalty to the department.

“I didn’t want to be one of those guys who bounces from place to place,” he said. “This is my 14th year in law enforcement, and I’ve only worked at two places.”

When asked about his goals for the GPD, Blosser said he wants to continue emphasizing officer training and equipment upgrades, both of which were top priorities under Brenner’s watch, while striving to improve the “personability” of the department through attendance and interactions at community events.

“Well-educated officers are good officers,” Blosser said. “What happens with a lot of police departments is, when the time comes to cut the budget, training is often the first thing to go, but that results in uneducated officers.”

Blosser said he would like to start a field training officer program at GPD and has an officer in mind for the FTO position.

Blosser said he will work closely with Dewees, who will remain in his position as sergeant. And with the departure of Brenner, Blosser will soon embark on the search for another officer to bring the GPD back to full staff.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “I’ll do the best I can and hope to serve the citizens of Greybull with integrity and honor.”

 

 

 

 

 

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