Chief of police and motherhood

Youngtown Police Lt. Kimberly Johnson is adjusting her schedule some as she balances her new job as police chief and the ongoing demands of motherhood.

In July, the 42-year-old Surprise resident and married mother of two, will become one of the very few female police chiefs in Arizona. 

Johnson said she understands her new responsibilities, and credits her husband and town staff with helping as she juggles a career and personal life.

"There are definitely days when I stress, but things can be done because all it takes is a juggling act," she said.

She has talked with Town Manager Lloyce Robinson about her schedule to accommodate her family and the police department.

"Everyone has been understanding, and my husband helps a lot with the kids especially when I have to be at town council meetings," Johnson said.

The appointment of Johnson is just one of the many changes expected in Youngtown in the next two months.

The town has restructured its governmental departments with the hiring of a new town marshal, public works manager and volunteer coordinator.

There is an ongoing process to update policies in town and improve operational capabilities, Mayor Michael LeVault said. When current Police Chief Dan Connelly retires in June, he'll become the new town marshal and enforce municipal codes around town.

LeVault said Johnson is ready to be chief.

"We're excited for her, and she'll prove that she's more than capable and will grow nicely into the position," he said.

Being one of the few female police chiefs in the state is an honor for Johnson.

"Since I started in the field, it's always been a male dominated field," she said. "But I'm going in with the training I already know and do the best job that I can do and that's all I really can hope for."

Johnson first began her career in the Phoenix Police Department as a civilian employee, then moved to the Peoria Police for four years. She then worked for Youngtown as a dispatch operator, before becoming an officer.

She was a sergeant for several years, but was promoted to lieutenant last April. Johnson said she'll be responsible for a department of 14 officers, once Connelly retires next month.

"It's going to be a big change but I'm ready for the responsibility," she said.

Johnson remembers when she first started in Youngtown, the population was senior-based and the phone calls for service were different.

"We used to stop and see how a lot of people were doing and spend time with some of the residents but that's not the case anymore," she said. "The department is quite busy due to a different demographic now."

Since then, Youngtown lost its age overlay as a retirement community and became a town with roughly 5,000 residents made up of both seniors and younger families.

"The issues in town are different, but we're still a quiet little community compared to others around us," she said. "It just means we have a lot more to do around here."

Johnson said her daughters, Darrah and Kennif, believe their mom's job as police chief is "cool."

"They think it's exciting, but only as the police chief," she said. "The girls have adjusted to me as a police officer because I was doing this before they were born. It's all just normal for them and they don't look at it any other way than just ‘mom's job.'"

When Johnson begins her new role, she has several programs to implement, including involving the officers in the community more. She already has a new slogan, Community PRIDE (Police and Residents Interacting Directly Effectively).

"We want to help build a better community and have everyone involved because it's important to have a great town, where everyone wants to stay," she said.