Mathews comments on first year

The Thermopolis Independent Record will be running a series of articles on Thermopolis and Hot Springs County elected officials who took office in January of 2019.

First in the series, Thermopolis Police Chief Julie Mathews reflected on her first year as one with challenges and a time for continuing the education and training of her force.

Prior to her role as Chief, she worked in Communications, Animal Control and Street Patrol in Thermopolis. She started her career in law enforcement in 1999 and while in the Riverton Police Department she became the first female Detective Sergeant.  

Mathews explained that every time a new chief comes in they implement what they expect, their guidelines, and to make sure officers are attending and getting trained in what they need.  She said, “It’s a big adjustment for everybody.”

Regarding her goal to make sure the Police Department is current with the times in law enforcement she’s made “a pretty good push in that direction.”  She has implemented a variety of officer education classes in areas such as more modern policing tactics and traffic stops.

Additionally, officers will receive CIT training, which is Critical Incident Training. This enables the officers to properly deal with individuals with personal issues and better able to help them and recognize their needs.  

There has been positive training offered such as in interview techniques, which enables them to get the information they need and vice versa. There will also be refresher training in radar certification and field sobriety. 

Officers also will receive training in ARIDE, which is, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driver Education. Chief Mathews said that “we can tighten up the education, so we are taught what is current by statute so that we can perform it out on the street.”  

Chief Mathews also has officers scheduled for TIPS training so that when alcohol is served outside the bars, such as the rodeo or other similar events, officers are trained to recognize whether or not there is underage drinking and help curb that problem.

Mathews said, “Everyone is embracing that new knowledge and they’re using it. The officers want to get these trainings and use it.” 

For her goals in the coming year, Mathews plans on upgrading the communications center to accommodate their needs. She said, in 2019 they had an increase in calls by 334 more than 2018. She plans to apply for grants to update their alcohol sensors and radar systems as well.

When she explained the importance of her role as Chief she said, “I look at it as I serve my community by doing this. This is an extremely important thing to make sure we are providing the community with the services that they need and correct follow up and making sure that we are taking care of our people. Community is important, it’s kinda my way of giving back to that. We want to serve you to the best of our ability.”