Corey Rowley, the chief of police in Yakutak, Alaska, has been selected to be Camp Verde’s new marshal, after a process that involved the consideration of more than 15 applicants, according to Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin.
“I really believe he is an outstanding choice to work alongside the town staff that I am so proud of and appreciate the patience of the community and staff in all of this selection process,” Martin wrote in a press release announcing the decision.
Rowley’s selection comes after a search that started when former Marshal Nancy Gardner resigned from the post in March, and included the previous selection of Randy Foster, a police chief from New Mexico, who withdrew because of family issues.
Rowley visited Camp Verde on Sept. 7, meeting with members of the community, the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office, and the Town Council, along with another candidate, police chief Scott Peters of Italy, Texas.
“The rural setting of Camp Verde is important to me,” Rowley said during a meet-and-greet on Sept. 7. He noted that the warm desert environment of the town is a welcome change from the cold of rural Alaska he is used to. “I accomplished the things I wanted to up there. I want to do the remainder of a career in one town. Camp Verde met all the elements I was looking for.”
In addition to the formal meetings, Rowley explored the community, showing up the day before the interviews unannounced at places like schools and churches, hoping to find out what people in Camp Verde were like outside of the planned meet-and-greets.
“From that moment that I met with those people and heard them talk about their Marshal’s Office and the respect they had for the Marshal’s Office, and the things they would like to see, I was just very, very impressed with the type of comment from the public,” Rowley said. “It was unsolicited. I didn’t set up any appointments because I wanted to get a pulse on the Marshal’s Office from the community and what the impression was. I knew I’d made the right choice, especially after those first meetings.”
Martin said it was Rowley putting in that extra effort that made him stand out in the interview process, and gave him confidence that Rowley would be a good choice for the town.
“He’s not searching for a job. He’s searching for a place where he wants to work,” Martin said. “And that was very impressive to me. Both candidates did that well, but Corey clearly understood that.”
Before his time in Yakutak, Rowley served as a patrol officer in Petersburg, Alaska; as chief of police, director of public safety and harbor master in Hoonah, Alaska; and as a patrol oficer in Syracuse, Utah. He has a master’s degree in administration of criminal justice and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Rowley said the move from Alaska to Camp Verde means not just an end to the Alaska cold, but also a chance to be nearer to some of his extended family, who live in his hometown of Syracuse, Utah.
He comes to Camp Verde with Nicole, his wife of 28 years, who is working on a master’s degree in child psychology. Rowley said his wife has been an invaluable help in his position in Alaska, leading programs on issues like drug reha- bilitation and suicide prevention alongside the police department. He added he hopes she can have a similar role helping the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.
The selection of Rowley as full-time marshal means that Cmdr. Brian Armstrong, who has served as acting marshal since Gardner’s resignation, will return to his normal duties in the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.
“I also want to send a specific thank you to our interim, Mr. Brian Armstrong, who performed so well during the last year,” Martin wrote in the press release. “He has an exceptional group he works with at CVMO and I cannot express how much I appreciate their sacrifices in a difficult time.”
Armstrong said that finally going back to his ordinary duties as commander, rather than having to step into the role of acting marshal, is a relief after almost a year wearing two hats.
“I can tell he’s going to be a very good t for the office,” Armstrong said of Rowley, having met with him for an hour at the interview stage. “I’ve been in this job 31 years and I love it. I could tell he had the same passion when he spoke.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
