New St. Joseph Public Safety Director Introduced

brianuridge

St. Joseph has a new public safety director. On Monday, city commissioners approved appointing Brian Uridge to the job. He previously served the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for 23 years, most recently as assistant chief. Uridge tells us his goal now is to get to know the community.

“What is the vision? What is the vision that the community wants, that the commission wants, and the city manager, and hopefully be able to carry that vision forward.”

Uridge will also serve as assistant city manager because, as City Manager John Hodgson says, he’s got the right set of skills.

“He has a great deal of experience with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety in things such as being the department’s spokesman and being able to handle critical incidents, and I felt that his experience made him the right person.”

Uridge will act as assistant city manager when Hodgson is absent. He replaces Mark Clapp, who retired in April. The city received 30 applications for the job.