Kent Goodrich sworn in as the new chief of the North Park Police Department by Hyde Park Mayor Bryan Cox, Sept. 19, 2022.
NORTH LOGAN — The cities of North Logan and Hyde Park have a new chief of police. Chief Kent Goodrich was officially sworn in during a brief ceremony Monday morning at the North Park Police Department (NPPD).
Hyde Park Mayor Bryan Cox said it had been a long process interviewing candidates to replace Chief Ulysses Black, who resigned suddenly in July after being arrested for driving under the influence in Idaho. He credited Goodrich for being the type of person the police department stands for and expressed hope for the agency’s future.
Following the ceremony, Goodrich spoke to News Talk KVNU about his love for law enforcement in Cache Valley. He said there is a special comradery that exists between those who are sworn to protect the citizens in this community.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s North Park or the Highway Patrol,” said Goodrich, “that brotherhood exists. I see that with the officers here as I’ve gotten to know them a little bit. Everybody has each other’s back. They’re loyal to the calling, they’re loyal to what police officers should do.”
Goodrich started his law enforcement career in 2004, after graduating from the Bridgerland Applied Technology Collage police academy. He was briefly employed by the Logan City Police Department and Cache County Sheriff’s Office, before joining the Utah Highway Patrol and serving as a trooper for 14 years.
He explained how this is the right time for him and his family to lead the NPPD. After applying for the job two other times unsuccessfully, he felt a weight in accepting the position, knowing that it would include having to try and repair the feelings of mistrust after Black resigned.
“More than anything, I want good things for the department. I want to bring that constant feeling back again that we’re okay. We’re going to make it through this, and we’re going to improve and keep moving up.”
North Logan Mayor Lyndsay Peterson joined Cox during Monday’s ceremony. Goodrich’s family and former troopers from the highway patrol were also in attendance.
Goodrich said the NPPD has 14 officers including himself right now and he is hoping to hire several more in the coming months. He is also wanting to reach out to the community and develop a greater relationship between citizens and police.
“As we try and go out and serve there is going to be times that we don’t hit the mark the way that we need to. So we want to learn from that and pick up. I’m looking for more of a community involvement. I want to see our officers out and interacting well with the needs of the community.”
Goodrich is married to Charity Goodrich and together they have six children. Kent and Charity have called North Logan their home for eighteen years.
will@cvradio.com