“I knew when I started I wanted to be a sergeant someday, but I never looked beyond and I think as went and grew with the department, you realize that the influence that you’re able to have to work on the professionalism of the department and to help advance things.”
Herzog, 46, said his aspirations started to grow as he assumed leadership roles, first as sergeant in 1995, then lieutenant in 1999 and captain in 2001.
“The more I got to do, you see your results and you say ‘Wow, I helped build this,’” he said. “You just get that satisfaction out of that and you just realize that when the (officers) need something that you’re able to work at it and get ‘em that.”
He said his interaction in the community, including his 11 years as a resident, is a key asset to understanding its dynamics.
“It helps me to see where the community wants us to go,” Herzog said.
Herzog said his management style depends entirely on the situation at hand, but typically veers toward not wanting to overshadow people.
“I like to make sure I have the most qualified person there that is going to do the job to where I can let them grow and blossom,” he said. “ Truly, I believe I got where I’m at because of the people under me. By them doing their job is what advances me. I’m a true believe it, you don’t get somewhere, it’s your people that got you there. If you’re not able to motivate them and get them to work for you and do their best, you’re not going anywhere.”
Herzog served under three police chiefs, but it was John Bruce, who served in that role from 2000 to 2008, who was his biggest mentor.
“He developed me and pushed me, challenged me to step up at times, maybe when it was earlier than I was ready for,” Herzog said. “He saw something and … pushed things. I would say he was instrumental in my development and growth as a supervisor.”
Turning to community leaders and business owners over the years for feedback has also proved to be an invaluable resource.
“To get a better understanding, you’ve got to get perspective outside of your circle, because if you stay within your circle, everyone’s going to pat themselves on the back,” he said. “You need someone to tell you it straight.”
Herzog, who was promoted to the rank of captain in 2001, and was most recently assigned as patrol bureau commander responsible for overseeing the operations of the uniform patrol section, warrants unit, fleet management and maintaining department scheduling.
He will earn $112,000 a year in his new role, which opened in early May when Erik Niehaus resigned to take a position as a partnered attorney with law firm Haughey & Deters.
Lt. Col. David Kelly, a 26-year veteran of the West Chester Police Department, was appointed interim chief, but told trustees in May that he wished to remove his name from further consideration for the position. With Herzog assuming police chief duties Tuesday, Kelly returned to his role of assistant chief of police.
Prior to a unanimous vote by the township’s board of trustees, Trustee Lee Wong said Herzog, with his more than two decades of service, has earned the respect and trust of the community.
“Mr. Herzog is analytical, he’s visionary and he has all the leadership acumen to be a great police chief and I couldn’t be more happy to see him get promoted from within,” Wong said. “This will cause a reaction within the ranks for promotions.”
Trustee President George Lang said Herzog was the best candidate for the position because of his living and working in West Chester Twp.
“With his 23 years on the force, he has the institutional knowledge, and with his relationships, especially in the business community, he’s going to be able to hit the ground running,” Lang said. “We’re not going to slow down, we’re not going to miss a beat because of the fact that we put Joel in here. He’s going to be able to manage the department in a very powerful way.”
Herzog asked his wife Karen and their two children, 23-year-old son Derek and 20-year-old daughter Danielle, to attach to his uniform the badge and pins that signify his new rank.
Speaking after the ceremony, Herzog thanked his family for their support and West Chester police officers for their dedication.
“I truly believe I am here because of the work you’ve done,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “You’ve made me rise and you’ve made me look good, so I appreciate that.”
Herzog, whose father is a retired lieutenant with Reading Police Department, is a graduate of Princeton High School and Indiana Wesleyan College. He started in the police academy in 1990 following four years in the U.S. Air Force. During that time he did an unpaid auxiliary at Xavier University before being hired as a West Chester Police Department in February 1991.
The biggest challenge for West Chester Police Department, which now has 82 sworn police officer and 10 civilian employees, is continuing to build its relationship with township residents and businesses at a time of when community-police relations have been strained in various locations nationwide, Herzog said.
“With a lot of events that are going on, there’s some perceptions and mistrust out there of police departments and I think that’s a minority of the people,” he said. “However, it’s a loud minority, so I think it’s a matter of being open and being transparent and establishing relationships to where people do understand and see where we are, what we do and why we do things.”
Herzog said one of the areas he wants to address is the amount of theft-from-automobile incidents, which numbered 352 in 2013 and 346 for 2014 as of last Friday, according to department statistics.
“They’re not necessarily high but they’re more than I would like to see,” Herzog said of the thefts, which typically occur when people leave purses, mp3 players or laptops in vehicles as they run into a store for a few minutes. “In West Chester, we have a sense of security, which is a good thing, but we still have to maintain our awareness and secure our valuables.”
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