On Friday there will be a new chief in town — the streets of Halstead will be patrolled by a Reno County native.
Matt Neal is a 33-year old father of two who started with the Halstead Police Department June 23 and will transition into the role he was hired for Friday.
“I’m excited to be in Halstead,” Neal said. “I’m honored and humbled for the opportunity.”
Neal, a graduate of the University of Denver, wasn’t always in law enforcement.
After earning his degree from Denver, the school offered him a job as a play-by-play announcer for women’s basketball.
It was a job he loved but not the one he was meant to do.
“I’d been on the radio since I was 17,” Neal said. “But I always wanted to be in law enforcement. I’ve wanted to be a police officer for as long as I can remember.”
To fulfill that mission he returned home — securing a job with the Hutchinson Police Department.
While with Hutchinson, Neal was able to be a school resource officer and observe nearly every department. It was seven years he spent learning — and enjoying.
But it also was seven years that took a toll on his body.
“I left HPD at the end of 2006 after eight knee surgeries,” Neal said. “I needed to get out of law enforcement to give my knees a rest.”
But the desire to be a police officer didn’t die. It still burned from within. He just needed the right opportunity.
Neal said he considered going back to the Hutchinson Police, but then another opportunity was presented.
“The chief position in Halstead opened up, and I applied,” Neal said. “The opportunity was presented, and there was no way I could turn it down. It’s the perfect opportunity — you can live in a town 20 minutes from Hutchinson, 20 minutes from Wichita and 10 minutes from Newton.”
Plus, he said, he not only would get to work with outgoing chief Austin Hamilton, but inherits a department with a strong staff.
“He has done a great job here,” Neal said. “I am walking into a great situation with good officers and a well-run department.”
Neal’s first order of business will be to hire another officer. And with a new chief will come changes to the department.
Neal plans to change the workday for Halstead officers — changing to a 12-hour shift.
“When they made that change in Hutchinson I was opposed to it,” Neal said. “I thought it was the stupidest thing I had ever heard of. But it turned out to be a great thing.”
Officers will be scheduled in 12-hour shifts but will have a three-day weekend every other weekend.
The schedule will have enough regularity built in officers can know a year in advance when that three-day weekend will hit.
“I want to make it easier on the officers every day,” Neal said. “And it guarantees we always have an officer on the street.”
The new shift structure is not likely to be the only thing Neal brings with him from Hutchinson.
He’s not shy about borrowing ideas from his old department.
“I believe I learned how to run a great department in Hutchinson,” Neal said. “I will copy of lot of things from them. I won’t hesitate to get on the phone with Chief (Dick Highschmidt) and talk about ideas.”
Neal’s other big goal for the near future is building a stronger presence and relationship within the Halstead school system.
Neal served as a school resource officer at the elementary school level for two years in Hutchinson, and it is those two years that create his desire to run a department with a strong connection to the school system.
“It’s important to build a positive relationship with kids at the schools,” Neal said. “I don’t say this to downplay anything that has happened in Halstead in the past, but we will be more involved in schools and have more of a presence there.”
If his officers listen to his passion, it’s doubtful he’ll have any problem finding department members willing to be part of the school effort.
“If I could have done that job for the rest of my career, I would have done it,” Neal said. “They say stress and worry takes years off of your life. But working with the kids puts years back on your life.”
Neal said updating the police procedure manual also will be on his plate early — as will be developing a relationship with his new home.
Neal will continue to try and find time to get to know the people of Halstead.
“I want people to be comfortable and willing to come to me,” Neal said. “If they have a concern, I want to know about it.”
His wife and two adopted children will make their home in Halstead.
The couple has been married for two years, and have adopted a 6 and 8 year old.
Neal said all are looking forward to making their home in Halstead.
“My son doesn’t really care about moving,” Neal said. “He is just glad I am going to be a cop again. He just wants to see me come home with badge and gun on my hip.”
