After 17 years with law enforcement in Kimball County, the last several of which as Chief of Police, Doug Provance is retiring.

“I have tentatively announced my retirement date as Dec. 31, 2010,” Provance said.

The date is not set in stone because Provance wants to be sure the position is filled and the new chief is trained before he goes.

Provance said the decision to retire was not an easy one to make. Law enforcement has been a part of his life for more than 28 years (Provance entered law enforcement in 1982). But, after spending a weekend surrounded by his wife, his kids, and his grand daughter, the decision became quite clear.

This decision will be for the better of my family, he said. It was not done out of anger or any sort of ill will.

“I have no animosity towards the city,” he said, “It’s just time for me to go.”

When he made his retirement clear to Mayor James Schnell, Provance said the mayor was very accepting. He also spoke to some of the members of city council individually. Again, Provance said they were very accepting.

“I wish the city the absolute best,” he said.

But the short-term chief won’t be idle. In fact, he has already accepted a new position.

Upon his leaving the city, Provance will begin working for High Point Manufacturing. An ammunition manufacturing company located at the former Poly Pipe location.

At this time an official opening day for High Point Manufacturing is unknown. Remodeling and installation of machinery still needs to occur.

The opportunity to work at High Point Manufacturing intrigued Provance. He looked at it as a rare chance.

“It’s an opportunity to get on with a local company from the ground up,” he said, “This is a great opportunity for me and my family.”

Provance said that High Point Manufacturing is also a great opportunity for Kimball. He said the business will provide well paying jobs to the citizens of Kimball as well as providing an opportunity for former residents to come back to.

Looking back on his tenure in law enforcement Provance said he has seen many changes. Technology, procedure and more have all had an over haul. Locally he said the biggest change he has seen is with the direction of the department. At one time he said the department appeared to have a revolving door with officers riding it in and out. Now the ebb and flow has stopped.

“We have good, young officers here now,” he said.

As to regrets Provance said it is hard to leave a job like this and not have them.

“There is always gonna be regrets,” he said, “There is always things that could’ve been done, but it is time to move on.”

To the knew chief, when he or she is hired, Provance offers a few words of advice.

“Make you decisions and stick wither,” he said.

As long as the new chief keeps the people they serve and the city in mind they will do fine.

Aside from a career change, Provance said he is also willing to serve on boards. I am willing to do things that will be for the betterment of the city, he said. This is our home, and as such, I am willing to work to improve it.

On the home front, Provance’s wife, Jennifer, said she is very supportive of her husband’s decision.

“There comes a certain point where you have done all that you can do and it is time to move on,” she said.

This change will be a positive thing for us.

The line of work Provance has been in is a 24-7 type of job. You just can leave it at the office, she said.

It will be nice not to have to worry about the 2 a.m. call outs and the like.

“Change is a good thing,” she said.