Unlike some Western Michigan University Bronco fans, the newest police captain in Mount Pleasant describes the CMU town as friendly.

Rory Heckman, WMU alumnus and Bronco supporter, began his new job Jan. 17 after working in Kalamazoo for nearly three decades. Heckman retired from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety this month and is taking over captain duties from Bill Yeagley, Mount Pleasant’s director of Public Safety.

Yeagley was promoted to interim director in January 1999 and had been working in both positions. He was named permanent director June.

“It’s a very friendly community,” Heckman said of Mount Pleasant,” a little smaller than Kalamazoo. I’ve been over to the CMU campus and it’s nice, but I’m a Bronco grad and a Bronco fan.”

But Adjusting to CMU Chippewa territory may not be as big a leap as some may think. Heckman served on the Kalamazoo force since 1973, his graduating year at Western.

“A challenge to some is understanding students. But it’s not a challenge if you’re used to doing it. I don’t see that as a challenge because I grew up and worked in an environment with a major university,” he said.

Heckman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with aspirations of law school. Instead, he joined the Kalamazoo police one month before graduating and stayed for 27 years.

“I wanted to be a lawyer, but I went into police work because I had no money for law school. And I’ve been here ever since,” he said.

Heckman left a much larger police squad when he switched jobs. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has about 300 officers, while Mount Pleasant has only 32, Heckman said.

But he said the most glaring difference between the two jobs is the level of cooperation in Isabella County.

“There’s a lot of agreement among law enforcement agencies in the area,” Heckman said.

The new captain’s duties include operations command, developing leadership and administering the budget.

“Our current goal is to bring the department into the community-policing concept, serving the city of Mount Pleasant. It’s been touched on here and there, but we’re really going to start focusing on it,” Heckman said.

Community policing involves students and neighborhoods, where crime and quality of life issues are at the top of citizens’ concerns. Heckman said the issues differ in various neighborhoods.

“For example, a student area is more likely to have theft from autos and more breaking-and-enterings. We’re figuring out how to attack those areas,” he said.

“Our goal is bringing everyone together and working toward a common goal.”

Yeagley said he’s excited to have Heckman in the department.

“I’m excited because this guy brings a lot of skills and talent that will be beneficial to our community and organization,” Yeagley said.

“He possesses the qualities, traits and experience we were looking for. He brings with him the qualities to mentor our officers and can use the skills and talents they have, and he understands and believes in community policing.

“He enjoys and understands police work. He has a real passion for the position and that’s a great quality to have for this position,” Yeagley said.

Yeagley said he can now focus more on his director duties with Heckman aboard.

Heckman said he and his wife are still in the process of moving to Mount Pleasant. They have two sons, one a student at Albion College and the other an electrician in Kalamazoo.

Heckman said he feels at home as the captain of a new police team.

“I find quite a bit of job satisfaction and like working with people. And I enjoy the opportunity to work with professional men and women, and also with younger officers who are where I used to be.”

E-mail the author: Anthony JudnichLIFE Staff Writer