First in a series
[img]2705|right|Police Chief Scott Bixby||no_popup[/img]When the city went shopping last winter for a replacement for departing Police Chief Don Pedersen, they were not in the market for a sharply spoken leader, as several have been this century.
Scott Bixby’s serene, common-sense personality – not to mention policing factors and his lifetime employment – made him the cover boy choice when he was named in mid-April and finalized shortly thereafter.
Frills are the antithesis of Mr. Bixby. Plain. Plain-spoken. Straight talk. Eyes never stray. Always on his inquisitor.
Mr. Bixby may have confirmed the shrewdness of his selection this morning when discussing Ferguson.
Given the race-infused complexities of Ferguson, Mr. Bixby’s responses resembled an intensely nuanced baked dish that, deftly, was cooked to just the right degree.
Question: For the police chief of a mostly white community of 40,000, what thoughts rumble through your mind as you digest each chapter of the Ferguson story? Does Ferguson seem like a separate universe? Or can you identify?
“I don’t see it as a separate universe at all,” Mr. Bixby said. “I see it as an opportunity for me to be as visible as I possibly can. This is a chance to reach out as best I can to all of the community groups and stakeholders, unofficial and official leaders.
“I don’t think you can ever have enough – to state the obvious — community support. We can talk until we are blue in the face to try and explain things and give facts.
“Nothing, though, speaks louder than if there is a personal relationship with groups within the city. They can (look at the chief and generally at the Police Dept.) and say, ‘I know that guy. We’ve had lunch together. I know where he is coming from.’
“That,” said Mr. Bixby, “is what we strive for.”
(To be continued)
