Dallas’s new Police Chief Jerry Mott, who replaced a retiring Tom Simpson on July 1, grew up in Polk County. His steady progression through the ranks within the Dallas Police Department since he was hired in 2004 has inevitably led him to his latest leadership role. Unlike the other kids in the region, however, Mott didn’t share their vision of someday joining law enforcement.
“Absolutely not,” Mott said. “I wanted to be an attorney. There’s quite a bit of crossover, but it’s definitely not the same thing.”
His career path took a swerve in 1997 when he started working as a cadet with the Oregon State Police…