Council names Aikens Sidney Police Chief

During Tuesday night's regular meeting of the Sidney City Council, City Manager Ed Sadler announced Assistant Police Chief Joseph Aikens had been selected as Sidney's new chief of police effective immediately.

In an interview in early May, Sadler said 18 candidates had applied for the position.

"I was actually surprised where we had candidates from," Sadler said in the interview. "Virginia, D.C., Florida, Texas, some local. It surprised me how far-flung they are."

Sadler told council that on Monday, he and a committee comprised of five members of the public interviewed several candidates, ultimately offering the position to Aiken Tuesday morning.

"I am pleased that Joe has accepted the offer to be Sidney's new police chief," Sadler stated in a press release regarding Aiken's new position. "His experience in Sidney will be a valuable asset to me as I move forward learning about Sidney, its businesses and residents."

According to the release, Aikens has served in law enforcement for nearly 35 years with the Sidney Police Department, starting in 1982 as a communications officer and reserve patrol officer.

In 1986, he tested and was promoted to full-time patrol officer, and later served as the department's first full-time narcotics investigator assigned to the Western Intelligence Narcotics Group in 1990.

In 1991, Aikens was promoted to sergeant and placed in charge of the Sidney Police Department's investigations.

Aikens, who has served as the assistant police chief since 2001, has also been in charge of the Sidney Police Department three different times in the past seven years, the release states, during police chief vacancies. Most recently, he has headed the department since his predecessor, B.J. Wilkinson, resigned in October last year after he was placed on paid administrative leave following a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government operations.

In the release, Aikens stated that he was honored to be selected as the new chief of police for the City of Sidney.

"During my tenure with the city, I have been challenged by the many different roles I have served, and have gained valuable knowledge that has helped me to achieve this accomplishment," Aikens stated.

"I appreciate everything that I have learned from the chiefs I have served under and will strive to continue to provide quality law enforcement for the citizens of Sidney."

Aikens thanked Sadler for the opportunity "and the confidence he has shown" in appointing him as police chief, and also thanked the police department's staff "for their patience and dedication to the community."

"They are a great group of people who will continue to strive to make Sidney a safe place to live and work," he stated. "I would also like to thank my wife and family for their support."