Eagle River police Chief Mark Vander Bloomen has submitted a letter of retirement letter to the city council indicating after ll years as Chief and 32 years in law enforcement he will be leaving his position effective May 30 but will be taking vacation and compensatory time starting April 8.
Chief Vander Bloomen pointed to community policing being “fantastic” in Eagle River saying “it's a natural byproduct of a small department,” adding the “strong support of the community and city council and the people who live here toward the department has been a pleasure.”
He felt important and satisfying were the open lines of communication that exist with the community. “Folks are not afraid to come in and vent and we listen to them. One result was removal of all parking meters in the city; they are gone and won't return,” he said.
Asked about how to deal with thousands of people who come into town on a rainy day in July, Vander Bloomen says “visitors and residents are good, honest people that mostly behave themselves knowing we are a vacation destination.”
His staff deals well with crowds during community events such as the July 4th parade and Cranberry Fest. “We doubled the July 4th parade route due to overcrowding downtown and it filled up immediately.” One issue faced like most communities is dealing with drugs and that will continue. He will miss delivering Meals on Wheels on Tuesdays.
Chief Vander Bloomen is headed for the Outer Banks of North Carolina where people who want to visit will find him on the beach.