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Sol Oberg

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Sol Oberg

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KAYSVILLE — Bountiful Police Lt. Sol Oberg has been named the new Kaysville city police chief, effective immediately.

Oberg, 39, the SWAT commander for Bountiful Police and a former Davis County Sheriff candidate, will fill the Kaysville position immediately, even though he will not report for duty until Sept. 1.

On Tuesday night the city council unanimously approved the hiring of Oberg, ending what has been a four-month hiring process.

Oberg replaces former Police Chief Mike Lee, who was with the department for 34 years.

Lee retired from the department May 31.

“It is going to be great. … I feel fortunate,” said an excited Oberg, “and have prepared for this opportunity throughout my whole career.”

Oberg credits Bountiful Police for the training and time the department invested in him as an officer, and he is impressed with the professionalism Kaysville city officials demonstrated in handling the interview and hiring process.

“We were very thoughtful about the process we took in appointing a new chief. We took our time and diligently worked through each of the candidates,” Kaysville Mayor Steve Hiatt said.

Twenty-two applicants applied for the opening, with two of them being in-house candidates.

“We didn’t want to discount anybody,” Hiatt said. “So we provided an opportunity for all officers to apply in ensuring we got the best of the best.”

City leaders were looking for a “clear choice,” and they believe they found it in Oberg.

“(Oberg’s) knowledge and expertise in law enforcement techniques rose him to the top,” Hiatt said.

Oberg, who has 17 years with Bountiful Police, has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College in Missouri, and a master’s degree in public administration from University of Utah.

Oberg’s knowledge and experience will be a huge asset to the city’s police department, Hiatt said.

The Kaysville Police Department currently has 20 sworn officers, with three more officers approved to be hired during the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Hiatt said the city has been waiting to hire a police chief before making the three additional hires.

Oberg lives in west Layton so he will not be required to move into the city, as he is within the required living distance of the center of Kaysville.

Oberg will receive an annual salary of $83,928, said Kaysville City Manager John Thacker.