Green Bay police chief to become new TN. Titans Security Director www.privateofficer.com
Nashville TN May 20 2012 - After 26 years on the force, Jim Arts says it will be tough to walk away.
“This is what I know, and this is what I do. I’m a cop,” said Green Bay police chief Jim Arts.
But opportunity came calling just two weeks ago. Now, Arts is leaving Titletown for Tennessee.
“This is a big leap for us. This is a big leap we’ve not been there. I know nothing about Nashville. There’s this thing called country music. I’m not a fan but,” said Arts.
Arts was hired this week to be the new security director for the Tennessee Titans.
Arts says he will have a lot to learn as security director. He says he will have some help.
“I know I can count on my contact with the Green Bay Packers organization. They’ve already reached out and offered some assistance for me as I transition to that new role,” said Arts.
The city needs to find a replacement for police chief Arts. That decision lies in the hands of the Police and Fire Commission, a five-member committee appointed by Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt.
“Right now we’ll bring someone probably internal in as acting-chief, and then I think we owe it to the city and to ourselves to do a national search, whether that person is already here, or somewhere else. I’m not going to rush. That gives us six or seven months to do that,” said Schmitt.
Arts has been chief since 2006 and currently makes $102,000 a year.
Arts says he is proud of the progress the department has made. He calls it teamwork, from top to bottom.
“We’ve changed the culture in the organization. We’re pulling the rope in the same direction. We’re not fighting,” said Arts.
In the meantime, Arts has to figure out who to cheer for when the football season starts.
“I’m a Tennessee Titan, my t-shirt’s green,” he said.
Arts says he will officially retire from the police force in July. He says by the end of that month, he will be ready to go as the new security director for the Titans.
