IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Immediately following the retirement of Ed Mattson, who served as Iron Mountain’s Director of Police and Fire and was with the Iron Mountain Police Department for 32 years, Jeff Solka officially took over the position on July 6th. Solka, a veteran of the Iron Mountain Police Department, shared his insights after two weeks in his new role, offering a glimpse into the future of the city’s police and fire services.
A Veteran of Iron Mountain’s Police Force
Jeff Solka began his career in law enforcement over 17 years ago, graduating from the Northern Michigan University Police Academy. He has worked with several departments, including Chocolay Township, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department, before joining Iron Mountain Police Department in 2006.
Reflecting on his career, Solka emphasized the importance of community engagement. “Mostly interacting with the community, community interaction; getting involved more with the public and being out talking to the public a lot more, informing them of what we’re doing at the department and what happens inside here,” he said.
Challenges and Recruitment
Solka acknowledged the challenges facing the departments, particularly staffing. “The biggest thing is personnel. Trying to find enough people to work,” he noted. However, recent recruitment efforts have been successful, filling three vacancies and sending new hires to the police academy.
“The amount of documentation and paperwork that officers have to do today, it seems like it just keeps growing and more and more time-consuming as time goes on,” Solka said, highlighting another ongoing challenge.
Future Initiatives and Training
Looking forward, Solka plans to maintain strong community relationships and improve transparency. “Mainly by being transparent, keeping an open door and trying to provide as much information back to the public as we can, so when people have issues [or] there are questions about what happens throughout the community,” he explained.
Training remains a priority, with regular active shooter training and other new courses to meet state requirements. “There is actually quite a bit of training that has to take place even after going through the police academy,” Solka said, noting new state mandates for ongoing officer training.
Collaboration and Support
Solka praised the cooperation between local and neighboring law enforcement agencies. “All of our law enforcement agencies around this county, I believe, work very well together,” he said, highlighting the partnerships with Kingsford Public Safety, Norway Police Department, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, and Wisconsin neighbors.
Optimism for the Future
Kay White, Dispatch and Office Administrator for the Iron Mountain Police Department, expressed optimism about Solka’s leadership. “It’s exciting actually he’s going to be bringing a lot of knowledge to the table and he seems very excited. Very upbeat,” she said.
White emphasized the smooth transition and the positive impact on the community. “I think it’s going to be great, so I’m looking forward to it,” she concluded.
As Solka steps into his new role, the Iron Mountain Police and Fire Departments are poised for a future focused on community engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
