Salem’s new police chief has been named. He’s current Sergeant Kyle Ambuehl who first joined the department as a reserve officer in 1991 and a patrolman in 2001. He’s been a sergeant since 2009.
City Manager Rex Barbee made the announcement at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Ambuehl will replace Sean Reynolds who will retire as chief in August.
Ambuehl is thanking the city manager and city council for their confidence.
“I spent a lot of time with the department. I grew up here. I love this town. We have a good community. The police department has wonderful support from the community. We have a really great group of guys and I really wanted to see things continue to go forward. Chief Reynolds has put us in a great position. We have started the S-R-O’s and we’ve got the canine back. I just want to help the department to continue to progress in the right direction.”
Ambuehl wants to see the department pool resources and work together with the sheriff’s department and other departments. He feels the change in policing standards set by the state can be managed and notes the department enters the process with all of its necessary training being complete. Ambuehl will also be listening to members of his own department who bring viewpoints from a number of different angles.
“The guarantee I can make is I’ll work hard and I’ll always be here. I know I will make some mistakes, but I’ll take ownership of those mistakes and we’ll move forward.”
Barbee says Ambuehl was one of ten candidates and one of three interviewed, including another member of the department and another local police officer.
“Overall everybody has when they get to that position, they all have training in various areas and interagency activities. I think Kyle’s familiarity with our community and lifelong living here had a lot to do with that. He is pretty even-keeled and knows how to handle some stressful situations with calmness maybe some of the rest of them didn’t have.”
Outgoing Chief Reynolds also feels Ambuehl was a good choice.
“He’s always been a hard worker and very dedicated to the department. I think he will do an outstanding job leading the department and keeping it going in the right direction. I look forward to seeing the things he does and the changes he makes and I think the citizens will be in good shape with him as their police chief.”
Ambuehl will come off the streets during Reynolds’s final week as chief so they can work together on the administrative changeover. Ambuehl will be officially sworn in after Reynold’s retirement.
Ambuehl moved to Salem with his family at the age of five and is a graduate of Salem Community High School. After getting married he lived 16 years in Odin before moving back to Salem. Ambuehl also serves on the Salem Community High School Board, a position he plans to keep.
