Michael Bickell has taken the position of police chief for Linn PD after the retirement of Richard Bray, who stepped down after 16 years with the department.
At the time of his appointment on Jan. 19, Linn Mayor Dwight Massey praised Bickell’s development.
“Mike came to us pretty well right out of the academy,” Massey said. “We’ve had the privilege of watching him develop as he took careers with the State Parks Departments and with other departments. He has taken the time and commitment to work with the drug task force and with the Kansas Highway Patrol. While both candidates we interviewed were wonderful people, I think we have our best choice right here.”
Bickell was officially sworn in on Jan. 19 but he is a familiar face in Osage County.
“I worked for the sheriff’s department in 2015 and 2016,” he said. “I initially moved here from Mexico, Missouri. That’s where I’m from. My wife is from here, so I married a local girl.”
Even though his time as a local deputy may have been short, he has continually been involved in law enforcement since his departure.
“When I left the sheriff’s department, I went to work for the Missouri State Park Rangers, and from there I went to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Then my wife told me we were moving back. The wife spoke so here I am,” joked the 32-year-old police chief.
Chief Bickell thanked Mayor Massey and the Board of Aldermen.
“The thing I ask of you is to do the very best you can to keep the citizens of this community safe, watch your budget and first and foremost, take care of yourself and your people,” Massey said while he pinned the new badge on Bickell.
Chief Bickell has already had a few months of administration experience at Linn PD. He has made good use of that brief time in focusing on community safety.
“Richard (Bray) started letting me run some of this stuff back in the October and Novemberish time frame,” said Bickell. “I got us onboard for MoDOTS traffic safety grants. Officially, next year we will apply for the full-term grant. This will let us run active patrols for DWI, seatbelt, car-seat, texting-and-driving, and reckless driving violations. I’m trying to get us into more active public safety service to help the community more.”
These initiatives are not motivated by a desire to increase ticket revenue, but rather are meant to focus on serving the public and being a visible deterrent.
“I’m not looking for a ticket increase,” he explained. “I just want the officers to be proactive. When the public sees the red and blue lights on, the people will know that who they are paying to protect them is there.”
Bickell plans to continue patrols in addition to his administrative duties as chief.
“When Richard left, it dropped us down to four officers,” he said. “I work a shift by myself because I want us to continue having 24-hour coverage. I want to make sure that when someone calls 911 they can have an officer respond without waiting for dispatch to contact one at home.”
The new chief is proud of his officers and credits Bray for the work he did establishing the department.
“I have a good group of guys,” said Bickell. “They work for the community as hard as they can. I want to take care of them. Richard was a great chief. I would like to continue that dedication to the department like he did.”
For now, there are no major policy changes planned, but Bickell has ideas for the future that include the hiring of a new officer and protecting businesses.
“We are looking at hiring someone who is currently part-time in our department,” said Bickell. “He is from here and I think he would be a great fit and be beneficial to our agency. I’ve also implemented a policy where officers will be doing business checks. The businesses won’t know when these are done unless they call and ask. It’s random. That way criminals won’t know when an officer will be checking.”
Bickell also made it clear that he would like to see an officer in St. George School.
“I made and implemented a policy to put an officer inside St. George School,” he said. “Every day we are required to do at least one walk-through of the school. I want us to be active members of this community.”
Bickell stresses that his department is here for the people of Linn and will help them in any way that they can.
“We are dedicated to the community,” he added. “We are here to help take care of you. We are here to help with your problems anytime day or night, even if you just need someone to talk to. Call us.”
Bickell graduated from Mexico Senior High School in Mexico, and then attended the Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) in Columbia, where received his Missouri Class A Law Enforcement License.
He lives in Linn with his wife, Chelsea, and two children. Bickell credits his brothers for him choosing to follow a career in law enforcement.