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Show ' j r ! i " i : m ,. - " .1, Police Chief Mike Cro wle v Park City's Police Chief Mike Crowlejr may seem easy-going at times, ready at the drop of a hat to sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss subjects ranging ; from the weather to politics; and it would probably be safe to assume that he is not a conventional police chief because, as Crowley freely admits, he doesn't have the' "macho" image usually attached at-tached to policemen. But if you ask Chief Crowley what's the most important thing in his life, he answers unequivocally, law enforcement. enforce-ment. ' Only 27 years old, Mike Crowley is one of the youngest police chiefs in the state and probably in the country as well. Born and raised in Park City, Chief Crowley has been on the force six years and took over as chief when Garth Wilkin-; . son resigned about a year ' ago. It didn't take Crowley long to decide he wanted to . be in Jaw enforcement; in fact, he was only five years old when he received a highway patrol uniform for Christmas. That was it. He made up his mind then to to a policeman. During a candid interview with The Record, Crowley talked about his likes and . dislikes regarding law enforcement en-forcement as well as Park City's problems, including drugs. "Anytime you have a youthful population, a recreational rec-reational or fun-oriented community, alcojhol and drugs will be prevalent," said Crowley. "But I think we have a reputation we have not justly deserved. I don't think Park City's narcotics problem is, as severe as in the past. Sure, there are some narcotics, cocaine, marijuana, but it's not as severe as some people may think." - Since becoming police chief, Crowley said he has received cooperation from the City Council, and especially espec-ially from City Manager Wayne Matthews; yet the Chief added that because Park City is evolving more , and- more into a year-round resort town, the business of law enforcement becomes more demanding. , "'On occasions, said Crowley, "we are attempting to accomplish with a 9-man department what a 50-man department would be required requir-ed to do. But with the dedication of the officers, we're capable of pulling it off. :: ;: i . "We're becoming a year- round resort; there's no break in the action. We really don't have an off-season anymore. There's always something to look forward to, Arts Festival, Ride and Tie, potential problems and challenges." chal-lenges." , One of Chief Crowley's special interests is interacting interact-ing with young adults which immediatley brings up a problem he and the department depart-ment have at the present time.. "The biggest problem to me, " he explained, "is we don't seem to be reaching the youth, some of the problem kids between the ages of 14 to 20. They hold us at arms length. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I believe if you can help that age group, your potential problems are lessened. less-ened. It could mean just laughing with them and kicking an idea around that may keep them from becoming becom-ing involved in serious problems later in their lives." Chief Crowley seems to have a warm cameraderie with young people. He understands the temptations they are confronted with while growing up. Mike : . Crowley said he is somewhat of a "maverick," himself. "I raised hell when I was a kid; we all did," he said. Chief Crowley's approach to law enforcement can be summed up when he said, "Being able to talk to people and sit down and rationally . discuss things, that's the key to anything." Many police chiefs, Crowley Crow-ley said, isolate themselves from the population they serve. "Their enforcement policies," pol-icies," he added, "are based on statistics and data. They forget that human element. I hope that never happens to . me. If it does., it's time to move on You've got to have your people behind you, helping you." Yet it would be difficult for Mike Crowley to "move on" to another profession. He sees law enforcement as fulfilling just about every need there is in life. ''The diversity of the activity is amazing," he said. One day you're chief dog catcher, then chief detective, and the next minute you're directing a parade and coordinating city activities. You have to constantly change hats." Chief Crowley told the Record he has had his "melon thumped" during a number of arrest attempts he was involved in. Many people don't understand what it's like from a policeman's standpoint to be confronted with a potentially violent arrest situation, Crowley explained. "The thing that flashes through my mind is would a reasonable rational sane person be involved in this type of situation," he said. "You know' you'll have to take someone; out who's violent. Most people would get in their car and roll. You're breathing fast. You wf don't know what's going to happen. There's a crazy little quality, that lawmen have. I don't see myself as a 'macho-type', person. I'm just a policeman." Although Crowley spends most of his time in Park City serving as police chief, he is also working towards a Bachelor of Science Degree at Weber State, majoring in Police Science with a Minor in Psychology.: Mike's parents par-ents live in the Dominican Republic. His father is a mining engineer and vice president of a mining company. com-pany. Crowley lived several years in Nicaragua and Mexico , and has traveled extensively throughout Latin American countries. He v speaks Spanish fluently and treads Italian and Portuguese. Portu-guese. Three years ago, Mike married Park City's Becky Cowin who works at Silver King Bank. He also has two younger sisters. 'I just like being a cop," . Crowley said. "If they were to take my badge away, I really don't know what I'd do. The job is everything not necessarily the Chiefs job, but law enforcement in : general." "'J Hr-'fA'?' '-r4.. " - , - , , yi" V w ' ' ' iMi'vm'm |