It’s Official! Ray City has a new Police Chief!
By Carol A. Gasser Moore
RAY CITY, Berrien County, Georgia – Ten (10) full months ago, Robert “Buck” Owens was appointed to serve of the Ray City Police Department Interim Police Chief. In December, Owens completed his required police chief training.
L-R Councilman Jeff Sly, Councilman Hank Studstill, Mayor Brenda Exuum, new Police Chief Buck Owens, Councilman David Schools and Council Wesley Bennefield (standing behind).
Councilman Wesley Bennefield moved that the Ray City Council approve Interim Police Chief Owens as its official police chief at Ray City’s regular April Ray City Council Meeting.
The Ray City Council was of “like mind” seconding Bennefield’s motion and approving it. The Ray City Council is made up of Wesley Bennefield, David Schools, Jeff Sly and Frank Studstill Jr.
For over two decades, Chief Owens has worked in law enforcement patrol assignments. He has been a law enforcement officer for the City of Pearson, City of Ray City, and the City of Nashville.
As an Interim Chief, Owens experienced law enforcement leadership was needed when former Chief Miller left the position. Owns, in essence, was their choice to “keep the wheels on the wagon turning.”
As Ray City’s full-time appointed Chief of Police, according to a blog on the National Policing Institute’s website, it suggests that the citizens of Ray City can expect Owens to:
- Show “ownership” of the Ray City Police Department organization, in success and failure, and plays a key role in implementing his or her vision over a longer period of time.
- Develop effective processes to implement major policy and practice changes with input from employees, city leadership, and the community.
- Engage the agency regularly in long-term strategic planning and reinforces and modifies the mission, vision, and values statements.
- Be mindful of long-term relationships that existed long before their arrival, respects them, and must act gingerly in addressing some related long-term problems.
- Be mindful of the lasting pain of providing criticism, even if constructive in nature, to certain employees.
- May draw from a minor concern to lead to significant improvements through a change in policy.
For more information from the National Policing Institute, please follow this link: Blog link: https://www.policinginstitute.org/onpolicing/interim-chief-vs-appointed-chief-distinctions-with-a-difference/
Congratulations
Yes! It’s wonderful that Police Chief Buck Owens has been recognized! He’s worked hard for Ray City!
I will miss him in nashville. My long hours at work and when he was on i knew he would ride and keep a watch on area. It took me time to know him but then I understood tht he was just the type to never sugar coated anything even if he knew it wasnt what you wanted to hear. Congratulations!! I believe Ray city has someone that deserves it and will make an impact.
Yes, I believe you are right! I have wondered about the use of other buildings as well. I can’t imagine the strain for USPS employees at the Naylor Post Office. It wasn’t designed for the kind of traffic its getting. It’s questionably safe for customers and employees alike. I can’t imagine suddenly taking on 400-500 (estimated from Lakeland Post Office) boxholders calling at the counter for their boxed mail sometimes daily. That’s a lot of extra work. I can’t imagine postal employees trying to work outdoors despite weather conditions as they sort and load mail. My head hurts thinking about it!