The new police chief in Nixa has already had experience leading the department.
Joe Campbell was appointed interim police chief in Nixa when the former chief, Jimmy Liles, was named city administrator last September. He's been with the department for 16 years, rising through the ranks of corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and major.
Campbell said under his helm, it will be business as usual.
But one thing he hopes to accomplish is to seek accreditation for the Nixa Police Department.
"We have an excellent police department," said Campbell. "It's not because we have an issue or we have a deficiency, but it's always nice to be formally recognized for the good work that you're doing."
He’d like to see them work toward accreditation offered by the Missouri Police Chiefs Charitable Foundation, a process he calls “rigorous” and with many steps to ensure necessary policies and procedures are in place.
And, although Nixa has one of the lowest crime rates in the area, according to Campbell, the department must work hard to make sure it stays that way.
"I've always said that, as you go through your career in law enforcement, you know, as an agency we have to ensure that we are staying out ahead of the crime because, once you lose your handle on that, it's very difficult to get it back," he said.
Nixa’s police department currently has 34 officers, and Campbell said they’ll hire two more in the second quarter.
