Edmond Young Professionals created this blog series to get to know and hear from our incredible Edmond leaders. Learn more about Police Chief JD Younger in the interview below.
Name: JD Younger
Title/Professional Organization: Chief of Police, Edmond Police Department
What originally brought you to the Edmond area? New job with the City of Edmond
What is your favorite thing about Edmond? The sense of community
Can you talk about how you first got involved with the Edmond Police Department? As a member of another metro area police department, I had many opportunities to get to know members of the Edmond Police Department. Through an annual benchmarking exercise, I learned a lot about the Edmond community and the Edmond Police Department.
What has been one of the most meaningful or unexpected parts of leading a department in a growing city like Edmond? The partnership between the various constituencies (local government, businesses, schools, community groups, non-profits, faith-based organizations, etc.) provides a real sense of purpose and meaning as a public servant. There is increased satisfaction in providing service to a community that is grateful and supportive.
What is one piece of leadership advice you received as a young professional that made a lasting impact on you? Relationships are the conduit of influence. It is easy to get caught up in the transactional side of business and life. If we want to make a positive impact on our own lives and the lives of others, we must build and maintain healthy relationships.
What is your favorite local Edmond spot to grab coffee, lunch, or shop? I am not a very good cop, I don’t drink coffee. If I am eating fast and alone, I love Chick-Fil-A. If I have time to share, I frequent The Mule.
