Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240184
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN and MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Carey, 47, will start his new job Jan. 10. He will leave the Blacksburg department Dec. 31.
Independence is slightly larger than Roanoke, with a population of 113,000 - three times the size of Blacksburg. Carey will earn $70,000 a year, about $7,000 more than his current salary.
The Independence Police Department has 240 full-time employees and an annual budget of $11.5 million. The Blacksburg department has 76 employees and an annual budget of about $2.8 million.
Gaining accreditation for the department this year from an international organization that sets standards for law-enforcement agencies was "a crowning glory," Carey said, "and now it's time to move on."
"I'm very proud of what the men and women of the Blacksburg Police Department have accomplished," he said.
Carey said Independence's crime rate is three to four times higher than Blacksburg's. He said Independence had one murder in 1992. Blacksburg had none.
The job offer was confirmed Tuesday morning by Independence's city manager, Larry Blick. Carey said he was interviewed earlier this month as one of five finalists for the job. He was selected as a finalist after Independence City Council members viewed videotaped interviews that consultants conducted with semifinalists. Carey said he was interviewed by a Roanoke consultant, answering 15 to 20 questions "off the cuff."
"They think I've got the talents they need," Carey said.
"It's really with mixed emotions that I make this move," he said, mentioning that he's "made some lifelong friendships, and it's going to be tough."
Town Manager Ron Secrist said he knew Carey was a candidate for the Independence post.
"This was not a surprise," he said. "Don has kept me apprised of the situation."
Secrist said the police chief is leaving on good terms with the town.
"Don Carey's leadership and direction has contributed significantly to the quality of life in Blacksburg," he said. "It's a great opportunity for him, a very logical and progressive career move."
Secrist said he will name an acting police chief by the end of the year, then plan the search for Carey's permanent replacement.
A likely candidate for acting chief is Capt. Bill Brown, who held that position before Carey was hired in 1980.
Tuesday, Brown praised Carey for what he has brought to the Police Department.
"Everything's positive," Brown said. "He's brought a more professional image to the agency."
Brown said the officers are more professional, and he called the department's training and equipment second to none.
"He's a good leader, and he's really what you call a police officer's policeman," Brown said.
Carey started his career as a police officer, Brown said, "and he hasn't forgot that. He looks out for his employees. He's still attuned to situations in the field. I've learned a great deal from him."
In addition to bringing professional status to the department through accreditation, Brown mentioned Carey's work with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office on several joint projects, including a firing range, a radio communications tower and the electronic magistrate and temporary lockup facilities at the Police Department.
Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said Carey is probably the best police chief Blacksburg ever had.
"Don's a very talented person," the mayor said. "He's several notches ahead of any prior operation we've had."
Hedgepeth also lauded Carey for an "excellent" working relationship with the Virginia Tech Police Department.
Carey, a Lynchburg native, replaced Robert G. Broyles as Blacksburg's chief. Broyles left for a job in Hopewell.
Before coming to Blacksburg, Carey worked for 12 years with the Dade County, Fla., Police Department, moving through the ranks from uniformed officer to commander of the detective bureau's robbery and sexual battery section.
Carey said he's looking forward to working in a larger locality but realizes it will take some time to adjust.
"Heck, for a while it's just going to be a challenge getting back and forth to the office," he joked after a Town Council meeting Tuesday night.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.