Neimark signs off

Hanna Marshal Jeff Neimark put in his last day in law enforcement on May 11. The town gave Neimark a small send off party to show their gratitude for his 13 years of service to the town.

All told, Neimark has been working as an officer of the law for 32 years.

Neimark started his career in Illinois where he had been raised. His father, Paul, was an author of 52 books, one of which was made into a TV movie called "She Lives". The writer raised the family in the Chicago metro area.

"I grew up in Highland Park outside Chicago, about a half hour away," Neimark said. "It was a nice place that had a lot of lake front".

Neimark said, at first, he wanted to be a chef and work with restaurants.

"In college I went to culinary school," Neimark said. "I was 22 and it was always in the back of my mind that I would enjoy being a police officer. Then there was a job in the Highwood City Police Department, so I decided to try for it. The town was right next door to where I grew up."

Neimark was hired and found he loved the job.

"There was an army base nearby and I have been told there were more bars in a square mile for any town in the country," Neimark said. "Whether true or not, it was bar fight city."

In 1996 he started the bicycle patrol program for the town.

"I learned how to deal with the community in a closer manner being on the bicycle patrol," Neimark said. "It is probably why I did well in understanding community situations that sometimes arise here in Hanna."

Neimark was trained through the International Police Mountain Bike Association.

He was an investigator for several years before being promoted to Lieutenant. He became nationally certified in two different field training models and became a field training supervisor. He was also the Highwood Police Departments's primary evidence technician.

He retired after 18 years and came to Wyoming because of better taxes, a quality school system and crime was not as intense as it was in a metro town outside of Chicago.

His first job was at the penitentiary in Rawlins.

"It was great," Neimark said. "I enjoyed the job, but it was a little dangerous back when I worked there because they didn't give out stab vests. It was a bit understaffed and the pods had 80 men to one staff member. But that was back then."

Neimark moved to Hanna while working at the penitentiary. He met Hanna marshal Rick Burkholz who offered Neimark a job as deputy.

"We really hit it off," Neimark said. "He was sort of building the department from scratch and he told me he could use someone like me. I was game because I had enough of a break from law enforcement and the town of Hanna was quieter than Highwood."

Neimark came on board in July 2008.

"We had a lot of work to do," Neimark said. "There was some lack of confidence in the department that we built back up over the years. It wasn't just me, but the problems we had when I started have been resolved for the most part."

Neimark said in the beginning there were a lot of arrests but, as time went on, the arrests were less and the town became safer. The trust in the department was back.

Neimark became the marshal in 2011 as did another officer. Neimark found himself alone almost six years out of the 10 years he has been head of the department.

One of Neimark's proudest accomplishments was starting the department's less-than-lethal program.

"I had no idea that when I started this, that I would put it into actual practice within a year when I had to face an individual in Medicine Bow who was threatening townsfolk," Neimark said. "In the end my training paid off and the suspect was subdued without lethal force."

Neimark brought his bicycle expertise to the town through his annual kids' bicycle rodeos. He taught safety and rules to the youth in a manner that was fun.

Neimark has written over $300,000 in grants for modern equipment for the department.

"I believe I am leaving this department as one of the best equipped marshal office in the county," Neimark said. "It wasn't easy, but it was worth it."

The most satisfaction Neimark said he has had over the 32 years in a police capacity is saving lives.

"It is probably the most satisfying thing I did that I take away from my career," Neimark said. "The evacuation plan is another project I worked on that gives me tremendous satisfaction as I leave."

Under Neimark, the Hanna Marshal's office started the Telephone Reassurance Program where the department reaches out to residents who are alone to make sure they are doing well. Neimark was instrumental in bringing in two radar signs to help control speeding in the town.

He said the major events he remembers as being somewhat harrowing was the RR 316 fire that came to the edge of town and a train derailment that occurred in town about nine years ago.

"It happened right in town and the tank cars were filled with fertilizer," Neimark said. "We didn't know at first what it was. Both events had the town looking at evacuation and that is always going to be a challenge for a police department. But it all worked out."

The marshal feels he is leaving the town in a good place.

For his efforts over the years, the crime rate in Hanna has been getting lower.

"Hanna is considered to be one of the safest communities in Wyoming," Niemark said. "I am very proud of that fact."

Neimark is going to be taking it easy as he goes into retirement.

"I want to go fishing much more," Neimark said. "I am already scouting out fishing holes."

He said he hopes to continue to help the community in some manner because he likes serving the residents that have supported him for the past 13 years.

"This job has been very rewarding, especially serving as marshal to the residents of Hanna. It has been an honor to be entrusted to keep all the citizens safe." Neimark said. "I will miss that."