CENTERVILLE—Police Chief Paul Child recently presented several members of his department who had received advancements in 2021 to Mayor Clarke Wilkinson and the city council.

“It has been a challenging year, as always, but we’ve been blessed and have felt your support and we appreciate that very much,” he told the council Dec. 21.

In January 2021, Sgt. Allen Ackerson was promoted to the position of lieutenant. Ackerson has been with the Centerville Police Department for 17 years and holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice administration from Columbia College.

“He’s my right-hand man and does so much work. He’s a busy guy and does a fantastic job,” said Child of Ackerson who was the 2007 Officer of Year.

Officer David Boucher, who is a negotiator with the South Davis Metro SWAT crisis intervention team, a former detective and K-9 officer, was promoted to sergeant in July. Prior to being hired in 2010, he served in the Utah Highway Patrol, along with seven years in U.S. Air Force and two years in the reserves. Boucher has an associate’s degree from SLCC and comes from a family of law enforcement officers: 

Officer Preston Casey, who is also a negotiator with the South Davis Metro SWAT crisis intervention team, was promoted to master officer. He was hired in July 2013 after working in corrections with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office for seven years. 

Officer Kael Jackson, who was hired in May 2014, after 10 years prior experience in law enforcement fields: Davis County Corrections and the Ogden reserves, was promoted to master officer/case detective.

“That’s a big accomplishment; there’s a lot of requirements that go into master officer,” Child said.

Officer Kasey Scott, who was named the Davis County, Lodge 6, Federal Order of Police Officer of the Year, moved up the ranks to Police Officer II in May. Scott was hired in 2017 after three years with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office in corrections. He has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Weber State University. Scott will be moving into Detectives and will take over as the DARE SRO officer.

Officer Holly Coombs, who has been serving as the DARE School Resource Officer, advanced to Police Officer III and will move over to Detectives full time. She worked in adult parole and probation in Utah and Idaho for seven years prior to coming to Centerville. She was hired in June 2018.

“She has been doing a fantastic job,” Child said. “She’s been a great asset for us; we’ve been keeping her very busy.”

Officer Jason Shields, the department’s K-9 handler, was promoted to Police Officer II in May. He was hired in January 2019 after nearly three years’ corrections experience with the DCSO.

“He has been a great asset to us,” Child said.

Child also introduced new Dispatcher I Billie Jo Scoffield who came to Centerville after working for 13 years in the juvenile justice system, in Farmington. Scoffield has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Weber State.