World Photo by Jolene Guzman Coquille’s new police chief, Mark Dannels, here outside city hall on Sept. 10, started with the city in mid-August. On Oct. 13, the department will hold a community gathering for people to meet Dannels and his staff.

COQUILLE — Police Chief Mark Dannels wants to start fresh.

The city’s new chief said his job is not to dwell in the past, but mark out a new future.

From the looks of his office, he’s wasted no time getting to it. The fast-talking, energetic guy even has a new photo of his department staff posted on the wall.

The move has taken some adjustment.

Dannels, 44, shifted to a department much smaller than where he previously served. He spent almost 25 years serving in Arizona. Most of that time was in the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, where he eventually worked his way up to deputy commander in a department of more than 200 people.

Coquille’s department has seven sworn officers and one clerk.

“Every day is a challenge,” Dannels said. “But it’s a good challenge.”

Dannels said one of the bigger tasks will be working in a county where funding for law enforcement is shrinking, not growing.

“That’s new to me,” he said. “I’ve never heard of layoffs in law enforcement before.”

He also is used to working with specialized teams within the same department and an abundance of resources.

The sheriff’s office in Cochise County has its own gang, homicide and drug squads, along with patrol equipment such as bicycles and motorcycles. Even tech support was in house.

“The resources we have are what each officer and myself can do,” he said.

That isn’t necessarily a complaint. The need for outside assistance gives area law enforcement a better working relationship, he said.

Dannels met with the sheriff and district attorney already and said he is willing to pool resources to help alleviate problems stemming from lack of funding and loss of jobs.

“I wish I had the remedy,” he said.

Regardless of whether a solution is found, Dannels wants to spend the remainder of his career in Coquille.

City Manager Terence O’Connor said Dannels has immersed himself in the job so far.

“He has grabbed all the reins he possibly could,” O’Connor said.

He added Dannels seems to have welcomed the challenge of defining what community police means in Coquille and wants to hear the public’s opinion.

“They are our customers,” Dannels said. “We’ve got to treat them accordingly — in all aspects.”

He said about six months ago he got the itch to move. He and his wife, Nicki, agreed to move somewhere in Oregon or Washington, so when the position in Coquille opened up he jumped at it and brought his family — including two sons, Ryan and Corey — to check out the area before accepting the job.

“It seemed like a nice community,” Dannels said. “It’s a good place to come a live the second half of our lives.”

Coquille also is closer to where his oldest son, Justin, is attending college in Reno, studying criminal justice.

Life in small communities isn’t new to Dannels. He grew in a small town in the Midwest. Coquille reminds him of home.

“I like that atmosphere,” he said.

What’s more, Dannels missed water after spending time in Arizona.

“There’s no water there,” Dannels said. “People get excited when their bathtub fills.”

All the lakes in Arizona, with the exception of one, are man-made, he said.

“I went from one natural lake to an ocean.”

Dannels and his family are working into a new home, new community, new job and new schools. But he has found the time to coach soccer at Coquille High School and referee games.

In mid-October, the Coquille Police Department officers and the city will hold a town hall meeting to reintroduce the department to the community and discuss new leadership and performance standards for officers.

“My job at this point is to bring up the standard of this organization,” he said.

O’Connor said the city’s hiring committee liked that Dannels said his job couldn’t be done from behind a desk.

“He takes the time to go out,” O’Connor said.

“He’s not unfamiliar with what happens out on the street.”

Dannels said listening to needs and desires of community members is the difference between simply wearing the title of chief and actually being one.

“I earned the opportunity to be their police chief,” Dannels said. “Now I need to earn the respect that comes with the position.”