April 16, 2008 10:42 pm
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Carthage city officials made a good decision when they tabbed Greg Dagnan as their community’s top cop.
Dagnan, a Missouri Southern State University professor and former Children’s Center director and Joplin police officer, was recently named the new chief of the Carthage Police Department.
We don’t have a problem when community leaders select an applicant from outside the area for a leadership position, as long as that applicant obviously possesses superior credentials. Joplin police Chief Lane Roberts is an example of an appropriate out-of-town choice. Roberts’ knowledge of 911 center operations alone made him a logical hire. Most often, however, we believe that local people have an advantage in understanding local needs, issues and challenges. Dagnan demonstrates the knowledge needed to positively shape the future of Carthage, an ethnically fluid and economically diverse community.
We congratulate Dagnan on his new position but believe he faces many challenges in the coming years. He must figure out how to increase the community’s police coverage, upgrade equipment, improve officer training, fight child abuse, accommodate the needs of the rapidly growing Spanish-speaking community, and continue the regional fight against meth makers, meth addicts and the cancer on the community meth causes.
We believe Dagnan is the right person for the job.
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