Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home Police Detective Jeff Lynn was promoted to sergeant effective Aug. 1 as part of a reorganization of the department.
For the past couple of months he has been on a temporary duty assignment filling in for Sgt. George Dominy as he transitions into covering retired Cmdr. Steve Young’s duties, Lynn said.
Lynn, 36, has been with SHPD for eight years and spent about 4 1/2 as a detective, he said. Before that, he was assigned to patrol.
As a sergeant, he will supervise a team of four officers, who will each work 12-hour shifts.
The department is in the process of hiring two new officers, Lynn said. “We’re having a hiring procedure next week after the Jamboree.”
When those positions are filled, the new traffic team and the open detective position left by his promotion will be filled, he said.
“It was a lot of fun,” Lynn said of the detective job. “I really had a good time, especially with the narcotics enforcement.”
Working narcotics, he often spent more time with police officers from other agencies than he did with Sweet Home officers, he said, and he enjoyed the camaraderie. He also learned much about investigating crimes.
“Eventually, they were going to throw me out of there anyway,” he said. The detective position is a four-year rotation.
He is looking forward to the change of pace, he said. “There was a huge responsibility and stress associated with it.”
It never really had a set shift either, he said.
“I’ve actually really enjoyed being back on the road” and back with Sweet Home’s patrol officers, whom he had been somewhat isolated from as a detective.
“It’s nice to be back around the office,” he said. “It’s been awhile since I drove a police car on a regular basis. It’s nice to turn on the siren now and then.”
It’s also a lot less stress, he said. While he enjoyed the work, as a detective it could take years to develop a case and get a search warrant.
“I’ve enjoyed it so far, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Lynn said of his new position.