Police Chief Nathan Christensen has taken over the reins at the Holbrook Police Department but the beat is a familiar one. Chief Christensen began his law enforcement career with the Holbrook Police Department in 1994. He started as a patrol officer, then worked with the Major Crimes and Apprehension Team, and also served as a school resource officer for the Holbrook School District.
He left law enforcement for two years then returned in 2006, as a deputy for the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose quickly through the ranks.
In 2007, Christensen was promoted to detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and then in 2010, he was promoted to sergeant over that division. In 2012, he was again promoted, this time to patrol lieutenant over District I, then just six months later he was appointed by Sheriff KC Clark as deputy chief over the Patrol Division.
With the retirement of Holbrook Police Chief Mark Jackson earlier this year, Christensen was asked to serve as the interim police chief in May and was then offered the permanent position.
He noted that for the first year, his plans are simple. “I want to get the department fully staffed and I have no plans to make any staff changes at this time. We currently have three people in an academy.”
The cadets in the academy are all from the region. They include Joshua Minnick of Winslow, who graduates from the Phoenix Regional Police Academy on Aug. 23, and Heidi Hunsaker of Joseph City and Jade Gishie of Holbrook, who are both expected to graduate from the Northeast Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Snowflake in November.
Once they graduate these officers will have some time before they are on their own to patrol. “They will have 12 weeks of field training before being released to solo status. This leaves us with two open positions, which we are hoping to fill with lateral officers,” noted Christensen. The current budget allows for 13 officers in the department.
Christensen is also planning to make changes to the uniforms worn by his officers. “We are in the process of designing new badges, shoulder patches, hash marks and sergeant chevrons. We have implemented a new uniform policy that will streamline the current uniforms and bring everyone up to date and defines the only authorized uniforms and gear.” He explained that since many of the officers recently purchased new uniforms they will have a year to come into compliance with the new policy.
Regarding the badges, Christensen said the goal is to get away from a generic badge and to have a design that is more personalized for Holbrook, something his officers will be proud to wear.
Christensen, who himself was raised in Holbrook, is excited to serve as police chief for the community and looks forward to serving the people of Holbrook.
