By Brenna Wiegand
Capt. Jeff Fossholm of the Silverton Police Department will be sworn in as police chief Aug. 3. He replaces Rick Lewis, who retires Aug. 2. Fossholm, a 25-year Silverton Police Department veteran, has deep roots in Silverton. His great-grandparents got the ball rolling when they migrated from Norway to North Dakota.
Later, when word got around there were jobs in the logging community of Silverton, Jeff’s great-grandparents Anton and Karen Fossholm moved their family here and bought a little farm on what is now Fossholm Street.
His grandparents Willmar and Margaret Fossholm had property on Fossholm Street but eventually moved, purchasing the North Howell Store & Meat Lockers at the corner of Howell Prairie and Nusom roads. Later, Willmar worked for Marion County Public Works.
Though raised in Salem, Fossholm grew to love Silverton through frequent stays with his cousin Steve Fossholm.
“He had a paper route so we’d go out at three in the morning,” he said. “When we were done, we’d go down to the Towne House, which was open 24 hours, and have hot chocolate before we headed back home.” Later, he would show up for Silverton High football games and events.
His uncle Jerry Fossholm, police captain of the Mount Angel reserves at that time, inspired Jeff to consider becoming a police officer.
“He would tell me all these crazy stories about the things going on,” Fossholm said. “When I turned 18, I joined Stayton Police Department as a cadet while pursuing a criminal justice administration degree at Chemeketa Community College.”
Fossholm spent five years as a reserve officer in Mount Angel before he was hired full time.
“It was pretty small; you were the only officer on; I just needed something bigger,” Fossholm said. “Every time I came over to help cover on Silverton cases, I’d see their interaction, where it was like a family, getting along; having fun. I wanted to be part of that.” Not long after, a job became available and in 1987, Silverton Police Chief Bob McManus hired him. In 1993, he was promoted to sergeant.
Rick Lewis came on as Silverton’s police chief in 1998; in 2007 he promoted Fossholm to captain. For some time prior, Lewis had been eyeing Fossholm as a candidate to replace him when he retired. During the next few years, there was ample opportunity to put Fossholm to the test.
In 2005, Lewis embarked on a 6½-month mission to Iraq to train police leaders as they strove to support their emerging government. Before he left, Lewis appointed Fossholm interim police chief. Impressed with his performance, Lewis sent him to the prestigious FBI National Academy, an intense three-month law enforcement administration program.
In 2011, Lewis appointed Fossholm deputy chief as he turned to a six-month stint as city manager pro-tem, bridging the void preceding Bob Willoughby’s taking the city manager’s reins in January.
Fossholm pretty much did it all, including the entire budget as well as proving his own commitment to community policing, something near and dear to Lewis’ heart.
“I didn’t really know about community policing until Rick brought it here, and it’s been a win-win for the police department and for Silverton,” Fossholm said. “We have guys out patrolling in cars; Rick and I have been focusing more on the downtown area in order to be available. Walking around or sitting in a coffee shop, you cannot believe how approachable you are to townspeople, local business owners with concerns or visitors who stop to ask for directions.”
They are also involved in civic groups and multi-agency networking.
“My plan is to continue exactly what we’ve been doing,” said Fossholm, who will soon begin training Sgt. Buck Pilmore as captain.
“The thing about Rick is that he is so passionate about providing good police service that he wanted not only his police work to be his legacy, but to also leave Silverton in better condition than when he got here,” Fossholm said. “We’ve been working steadily to that end for the last year-and-a-half.”
Like his predecessor, Fossholm likes camping, boating and fishing. He and Teri, his wife of 30 years, have one son, David, who just graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering and now works in Beaverton.
“I love working for Rick; if he was going to stay I’m happy where I am,” Fossholm said. “Now it’s all my responsibility – and I’m ready to take on some new challenges.”
“Jeff has been a valued second-in-command for the past seven years and has served the citizens of Silverton well for the past 25 years,” Lewis said. “Jeff has the experience, the training, the background, the leadership qualities and the dedication to the community it will take to continue moving the organization forward in the years to come.”
Budgetary cutbacks dictate with Lewis’ retirement, the force goes from 17 to 16 sworn officers, and Fossholm heads a relatively young department. Nine of the 12 patrol officers have less than 10 years’ experience, half of those with fewer than five years of experience.
Several years ago, to combat a frustrating cycle of footing the bill for a new officer’s training only to have him snatched up by a bigger agency, the department sought ways to improve its retention rate, from the interview phase through to various employment incentives. They employed an agreement that those who stay less than 30 months pay a pro-rated portion of their own training expenses.
“The last several years we’ve hired some really good officers who seem to have a commitment to staying in Silverton,” said Fossholm, saying chances are it won’t be personnel but budgetary woes that pose his greatest and most immediate challenges.
“Will we continue in a downward spiral, losing general fund dollars, or do we eventually turn that corner and start getting some of those funds back? Where do you cut? We want to continue to be a full-service agency, but we are already doing less with less.”
However, Fossholm says he will cross that bridge when he comes to it. At present, his hands are full with Silverton’s annual Homer Davenport Parade.
