Beatrice Elected officials meet new Chief of Police

BEATRICE – The Beatrice Mayor and City Council were formally introduced to the man who will be the next Police Chief for the City of Beatrice. It was also the final regular council meeting for Chief Bruce Lang, who will retire June 3rd after thirty years leading department.

"Something I just never could have imagined when I came here at 36 years old, that I would be here this long and this happy. I told Chief Hickman here when he walked in, he's walking into a good job and a good city, with a good mayor and a good council, and I truly, truly mean that."

John Hickman starts his new job on June 4th, and has been transitioning to the position and getting familiar with department operations alongside Chief Lang.
Hickman was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Savannah and son Colton, at Monday night’s city council meeting. Another son is currently serving in the military.

"I'm very grateful and appreciative for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to stepping in and filling some really big shoes vacated by Chief Lang...and really looking forward to continuing what's he's done."

City Councilman Ted Fairbanks praised Lang for his years of service to the community…..saying he’s done a good job with, at times, limited resources. Fairbanks was on the council when Lang was hired.

"I thought you'd come here at 36, shake things up, straighten things up...and there you'd go. And, you stuck around and I appreciate it. Congratulations on a long career that hasn't always been without skinned knees, but you really brought the department to where it needed to be."

Lang was appointed by former Mayor Dave Maurstad. Hickman has been serving as Chief of the Glendive, Montana Police…in a community of about five thousand in the east-central part of Montana.