Colonel Richard A. Greenwood
When Colonel Duane Richens decided to return to retirement in May 1993, Governor Michael O. Leavitt selected the lieutenant over Executive Protection and Protective Services Section as his replacement. Richard A. Greenwood was sworn in as Colonel on August 5, 1993. During this same ceremony, Ferris E. Groll, a 27 year police veteran who served 9 years as Logan police chief, was sworn in as Deputy Commissioner. Groll, 51, replaced Brant L. Johnson, who retired July 31.
Richard Greenwood, a 16 year veteran of the Utah Highway Patrol, had also served with the Miami Metropolitan Police Department in Florida prior to coming to Utah. Colonel Greenwood believes in allowing supervisors to make decisions at the appropriate levels. He also focused on automation, looking for ways to eliminate unnecessary paperwork, and how to be more productive with limited resources.
Colonel Greenwood’s administration also developed ten areas of emphasis. The ten area of emphasis are public service, impaired drivers, occupant restraint, criminal interdiction, commercial vehicle safety, safety education, technology, community policing, human resource development, and local law enforcement support.
In an effort to build his own team, Colonel Greenwood replaced four of the five existing captains. Under his administration seven lieutenants received new assignments. Despite this major shift in command, Lieutenant Colonel Gary E. Gunrud remained as assistant superintendent. Lieutenant Colonel Gunrud’s insight and vision of the future was the type of creative thinking desired by Colonel Greenwood.
Under Colonel Greenwood’s administration a mobile computer pilot program was implemented. Fourteen patrol cars in Weber County were modified to accommodate computers in March 1995. For the first time in the history of the Patrol, troopers could complete all necessary paperwork from their patrol car. Under this program numerous reports were combined into a single report, making it possible for troopers to spend more time on patrol and less time working on reports.