Public Safety
SPANISH FORK CITY
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.
Chief Steve Adams
“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.
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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