For most people, working at the same job for over five years is an accomplishment. Even ten years is pretty good, but, working at the same job for nearly thirty years is a rare accomplishment.
Donald Yow started working at the Madill Police Department on June 1, 1992 and has faithfully served the City of Madill and its citizens since then.
Now, Chief Yow is preparing to transition from working for the City of Madill and begin his new career as the chief law enforcement officer for Marshall County.
The drive from home to his new job will add two extra blocks for the lifetime native of Madill. Yow was elected in the Spring 2020 Primary Election, to succeed Marshall County Sheriff Danny Cryer.
Yow said that working with all of the community members and “getting the opportunity to serve our citizens” and helping in any way that he can is something he genuinely loves.
Yow truly appreciates all of the support and trust showed by the community towards the police department in those years.
Through the years, Yow has experienced similar things like other departments across the state have such as learning how to keep up with the ever-changing technology.
Yow noted that there have been some positive changes with how the Madill Police Department has evolved through the years under his watch, including how the department has built a trust with the community and watching that trust continue to grow over several years.
The officers and staff have strived to not take that trust lightly and continues to work hard to serve the community. Even though Yow is leaving, he said he wants that community bond to strengthen.
He said he wants the next Chief of Police to treat the community and the officers with respect and continue to build that trust with the community, in addition to responding to the community and working with other agencies as well.
According to Yow, the two initiatives go “hand in hand” and bring about the best in every situation.
Yow said he hopes to continue community involvement once the pandemic eases up.
“We are going to serve our County and hopefully when Covid gets under control, we can have community nights out,” Yow said.
He also said he will be out to help smooth out any issues that may arise.
Yow said he pledges to work with the Jail Administrator and the staff to make changes as needed, including working with all other agencies and fire departments in the county to improve on the system.
One of Yow’s first assignments that he will make in the transition is naming former Kingston Police Chief John Bridgeman as Marshall County Undersheriff. Yow said that the combined experience between him and Bridgeman as law enforcement executives will put Marshall County in a better position. Furthermore, with the competent staff of deputies and jailers, helps the residents of Marshall County have a safer experience with law enforcement.
Yow said he chose Bridgeman because he feels they are like-minded when it comes to law enforcement.
“Bridgeman is a good man who can not only help with calls but shares the same passion about all our communities in our county and we both want to help our communities by being seen as much as we can throughout the county.”
Yow noted that he is excited to serve his county as he begins his new journey on January 4, 2021.