The Campbell County Fiscal Court recognized Campbell County Police Force Merit Board member Van Needhman for his 17 years of service on the board.
The police force merit board governs the activities of the Campbell County Police Department to protect the officers and the public. Needhman has served on the police merit board since 2007 and is stepping down this month.
“We have a bipartisan board that has to act in a non-partisan manner and govern such things as disciplinary actions, promotions and so forth,” Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery said. “There’s a balance that has to be created by law in order to accomplish all that, and a whole lot of time that has to be put in by board members, and Van Needhman has served in this capacity since 2007.”
Pendery said the police merit board is a service to the community and one that police officers appreciate.
“I think everybody understands that in this day and age, their job is not just difficult it borders on impossible,” he said. “They need the understanding and the protections that are provided by the group, with Van as a leader among them for many, many years.”
The Campbell County Fiscal Court voted to appoint Rebecca Kirchhoff to the board from April 16 through August 4 to fill the remainder of Needham’s unexpired term.
Campbell County Police Chief Craig Sorrell recalled a few years back when police nationally were under review. He said people questioned whether departments were operating correctly and if their procedures were good. At the time, the department had a woman call, file open records and wanted to investigate the department.
“We started talking, and I explained to her the merit board,” Sorrell said. “How they are involved, that they are bipartisan split equal sides, what their responsibilities are, policy, promotion, interviewing for hiring. I explained this to this woman as we went through, and she was like, ‘How come everybody isn’t like that?’ You know what I mean? Instantly, she was very pleased with how the agency and county police operate in the state through the inputs of the merit board.”
Campbell County Police Force Merit Board Secretary and non-voting member Keith Daniels thanked the fiscal court for its support.
“When we see so many cities and states with the defunding and underfunding of so many police agencies, the Campbell County Fiscal Court has stood strong in supporting our community with financial support, which in turn provides great service for the citizens throughout Campbell County,” Daniels said.
On behalf of the merit board, Daniels offered well wishes to Needhman.
“We know that when you see one of our Campbell County police cruisers and the officers in them, you will always have great pride to know you helped make it what it is today,” Daniels said. “Job well done, our friend, and all the best in the future.”