Sherwood picks new police chief known as leader.

Veteran Sherwood Police Capt. Jeff Hagar has been tapped to become the Pulaski County city’s next police chief, it was announced Tuesday.

Hagar, a 23-year veteran and a retired Air National Guard chief master sergeant, will replace Chief James Bedwell, who will retire on Jan. 29.

“I’m excited about it,” Hagar said. “I’m looking forward to and kind of hoping to carry on what we’ve already got. I’ve got big shoes to fill.”

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing, Hagar said he will look to do whatever he can to protect his officers and the public from exposure.

“I think that you have to look to the guidance from the state and look to guidance from health care professionals on how you should handle [the pandemic], and you just take every precaution that you can for your officers,” Hagar said. “Obviously, they’re having to interact with people, so they’re probably a little more susceptible than the general public, and we have a responsibility to protect the public. And we have a responsibility to protect our officers.”

Hagar worked with the security forces of the Arkansas Air National Guard since 1990, reaching the top of the enlisted ranks in 2019. Some of those years he also held positions within the Sherwood Police Department.

The work he did in the military, according to Hagar, gave him the leadership skills he needed to succeed in his nonprofessional and professional life.

“The military is big on professional development and teaching you how to lead at different levels,” Hagar said. “I retired as a chief master sergeant, so I’ve attended all of the professional military education that the enlisted ranks have. Being able to lead in different places and in different roles taught me things about how to deal with people and how to deal with difficult situations. I think all of that helps you to develop leadership qualities that carry over in normal life, not to mention in police work.”

When asked about what his officers and residents of Sherwood should expect from his department, Hagar said he will push for high standards of professionalism in his department.

“Our role in the public is to be somebody that can be trusted and somebody that carries themselves professionally at all times,” Hagar said. “Sometimes we fail in that, and when we do, we have to hold each other accountable. But that should always be our goal to strive for: professionalism.”

Mayor Virginia Young, when asked about Hagar’s leadership, talked about his involvement with assisting the state police covering protests during the summer where he even made a good impression on Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

“Our Police Department was asked by the state police to assist with those measures, and Jeff led that for our department,” Young said. “He would literally be there with the governor, and, I really believe, even in the governor’s sight, he emerged as a very capable leader.”

Aside from benefiting from Hagar’s leadership skills, Young thinks hiring from within the department will motivate other members of the department to hold high standards in hopes they can reach leadership positions.

“I think it’s good for employee morale when [promoting from within] is possible, and that’s not always possible,” Young said. “But when you can, I think it speaks well for others who aspire for the leadership positions. I am a product of that myself.