ROGERS (KFSM) - A swearing in ceremony was held on Tuesday (Feb. 24) for Rogers' new police chief.
Chief Hayes Minor, a 21-year veteran of the department, was sworn in Tuesday. He succeeds former police chief James Allen who died from colon cancer in January.
Minor touched on some of the initiatives at work in Rogers.
"You know in light of national events the current topic of conversation across the country is police and community relations," he said. "It's a focus for us and it will continue to be a focus for us."
Minor said he is committed to working with the public.
"Having that public support and those relationships out there is just vital to a successful law enforcement agency and a successful community," he said.
Ian Cross has been living in Rogers for eight years. He said he's happy to have a police chief that's familiar with the city.
"Having somebody who actually understands what's going on in Rogers and is familiar with a lot of the people and the community is really comforting," he said.
Cross said he would like to see an increase in patrol in the city.
"There's a problem with speeders through these side roads," he said. "There's problems with people running stop lights habitually."
Other residents like Bill Long want the police department's newest leader to talk with the community.
"They've got a function to perform and that's to be here and assist the people sometimes more so than they do," he said.
Minor joined the Rogers Police Department in 1994. He was a captain when he took over as interim chief in January.