Spanish Fork Police Chief Adams Retires

End of an era: Chief Adams retires

Police work means interacting with people during the most difficult times of their lives while also witnessing humanity’s finest moments.

You’re also in a position to help — which was Steve Adams’ favorite part of his job.

“When you’re in law enforcement, you’re able to see the people that you touch and that need the help, and, hopefully, you’re able to help them,” said Steve Adams, former director of the Spanish Fork City Public Safety Department. “You see people at their worst. They’ve had their worst things happen to them, or they’ve done the worst things that they can do, and that’s heart-wrenching. But there’s also times when you see the best in people.”

A Spanish Fork native, Adams retired Jan. 14, 2022, after providing more than 30 years of service to Spanish Fork City. Matthew R. Johnson, formerly a lieutenant with the Spanish Fork Police Department, was sworn in as Adams’ replacement on Jan. 18.

WORKING HIS WAY UP THE LADDER

Adams joined the Spanish Fork Police Department in 1988. He worked his way up the ladder in the department, moving from patrol officer to investigations and then administration. Eventually, he was named director of public safety, a position that oversees Spanish Fork’s police, fire and EMS departments.

In his youth, Adams had a Boy Scout leader named Pete Bell who was a Spanish Fork police officer. Adams looked up to Bell, and this piqued his interest in police work.

However, his career path didn’t begin in law enforcement. After graduating from Spanish Fork High School and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Adams earned an associate’s degree in computer science. Computers were the future, friends and family told him at the time.

After doing computer programming for a couple of years, however, he knew it wasn’t for him, and he started applying for jobs at various police departments.

One day in 1985, he rode his motorcycle past his friend Pete Bell’s house, and Bell waved him over and informed him the Mapleton Police Department had an opening — but it was closing that very day. Adams immediately rode up to the Mapleton station and applied.

He was hired on, and Mapleton City put him through the police academy.

“In Mapleton, I learned a lot, and I grew with the city as it grew,” Adams said. Ultimately, however, it was his dream to work in his hometown, and after three years in Mapleton, he landed a job with the Spanish Fork Police Department.

Chief Steve Adams

INTRODUCING NEW PROGRAMS

Adams introduced several new programs into the police department during his tenure as chief. These included Safe School Walks, where officers routinely

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visit local schools and walk through the hallways giving high-fives to students. He also formally organized an Honor Guard within his department that provides Presentation of the Colors ceremonies at various events.

About four years ago, the department started its Public Safety Night Out, an annual event that allows people to see and handle emergency response equipment. Those attending can crawl up on a fire engine or watch a police dog chase someone down.

All of these programs provide opportunities for residents to have positive interactions with police officers and other emergency personnel, something Adams believes is very important for a community.

INNOVATION IN POLICE WORK

Under Adams’ leadership, Spanish Fork was one of the first cities in Utah to assign a Narcan dispenser to every police officer. Narcan is a nasal spray used to aid cases of suspected opioid overdose. This addition has saved many lives over the years, he said.

He was also able to get police radios placed in all local public schools. Adams said he read an article about a school shooting in Colorado that indicated police heard about the active shooter on their radios and were able to respond very quickly.

“I thought, why not have a radio in each of our schools in Spanish Fork?” Adams said. He approached the Central Utah Dispatch Center and then Nebo School District about the idea, receiving approval from both.

In fact, the district like the idea so much that now all Nebo district schools have a police radio in their main office. The radios come with strict rules regarding when and how they are to be used as they broadcast on the same channel where police officers communicate with dispatch.

This instant contact, however, means officers will hear about an emergency as the school is relaying information to the dispatch center, enabling police to respond quicker than if the school had placed a direct call to 911.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Although now retired, Adams doesn’t plan to stop working. He’s continuing to operate a landscaping business he’s had as a side job while working at the police department, and he said residents may see him enter public service via the political realm in the near future.

“I am very grateful for the community involvement, for their love and compassion and support,” Adams said. “It’s been a wonderful career, and we’re in good hands going forward.”

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