Centerville police chief retires after 41 years, leaving legacy of 'compassionate enforcement'

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CENTERVILLE — After 41 years of service in the Centerville and West Bountiful police departments, Centerville Police Chief Paul Child has retired from the force, handing the baton off to Lt. Allen Ackerson.

Child started his career as a reserve officer and volunteer firefighter in January 1983. Months into the job, he said he was "baptized into emergency services and law enforcement" by the tremendous floods that year.

"I fell in love with it," Child said. "You have the ability to be there when people are in crisis, in their darkest moment, and make a positive impact on their situation, make a difference."

Ackerman, who worked under Child for years as a sergeant and for the last three years as his lieutenant, said the chief "fostered a sense of community with an emphasis on compassionate enforcement."

After Child was given an administrative position in 2002, he was no longer required to take patrol shifts. But "until the day he retired he would go out there on Saturday nights and work shifts, handle calls," Ackerman said. "It's something that has endeared his officers to him."

Child said it's easy to lose touch with what officers are dealing with, day to day. "You forget what it feels like sometimes to be in the middle of a real tense situation," he said.

The sound of velcro straps separating on his vest after a long shift was a welcome relief, Child said. It meant he was going home safe.

"The longer you're an administrator, the less you actually understand the nuts and bolts of policing and what it takes," Ackerman said. "He was always in a great position to make decisions, because he understood the ramifications of those decisions and how it would affect officers and citizens out on the road, because he worked the road."

Many changes have happened in policing in the past four decades — new challenges, regulations and technology.

"I grew up in an analog era," Child said.

He remembers being told by a fellow officer that one day, he'll have a computer in his car. "I was just dumbfounded," Child said. "They're too big, they fill up rooms."

"It's hard to keep up with all that," Child said. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife, who has been an important part of his journey, and continuing his community service through other avenues like the Rotary Club.

According to Ackerman, who was sworn in July 16, Child has been preparing the department for his retirement for a good amount of time.

"It's been actually a really smooth transition," the new chief said. Ackerman hopes to continue the positive culture in the department which has resulted in "very little turnover," but moving forward he will have an eye toward technology.

The new chief says artificial intelligence presents lots of challenges and opportunities in policing that are constantly developing. And Child, who is in good health and taking some time to travel, is facing a new set of quandaries.

"As a law enforcement officer, especially for that long period of time, it becomes a part of the fabric of who you are," Child said. "When you retire ... it's like tearing a part of your life out of your soul."

Child grew emotional during his final radio sign off July 15.

"It has been my life's pleasure to serve the communities of south Davis County and Utah. This is 7-Golf-1 signing off. Stay safe, everyone."

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UtahPolice & CourtsDavis County

Collin Leonard

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