Police Chief Returns to Duty

Chief Bryan Hogan, of the Willow Springs Police Department, returned to active duty on March 8 after a four-month absence caused by his battle with COVID-19. 

 

“I was ready to come back,” said Hogan in an interview on March 11, “While I was gone, many local citizens were praying and sending positive thoughts my way. I cannot thank everyone enough. It means so much to me.” 

His battle with COVID-19 sent him to the hospital on November 10, Hogan said, and though he was in the hospital for an extended stay, the rehabilitation period was the longest part of his recovery. 

 

“COVID attacks your lungs,” he observed, “It took quite a while to get back to where it was.”

Hogan said his experience with the illness gave him a better awareness of the importance of safety precautions. He has received the COVID-19 vaccine, and says he would recommend it to anyone. 

 

His personal experience has not changed the professional protocols at the police department. Officers are still encouraged to keep a distance from the public where possible, and face masks are available for any officer who would like to wear one. All employees of the City of Willow Springs, police officers all have the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they choose to do so. 

 

In Hogan’s absence, Assistant Chief Wes Ellison helmed the department. 

“I really appreciate everything Wes did and the way he took care of things,” Hogan said, “The officers really stepped up and did a great job while I was out. I couldn’t say enough great things about the guys.”

During the four months without Chief Hogan, the department transitioned to the new record keeping and citation software, OmniGo, which has been an arduous process by all accounts. 

 

Funded by CARES Act money, the new system allows officers to write contact-minimal citations. Because other local law enforcement agencies, including Mountain View and West Plains Police Departments and Howell County Sheriff’s Offices, have also recently transitioned to OmniGo, information can be pooled and shared among these agencies to give officers a complete history of a subject’s interactions with law enforcement. 

Despite the challenges, WSPD rose to the occasion.

 

“I was pleased to return to an easy reentry,” Hogan concluded.