Middleburg's new Chief of Police, William F. Klugh, took the oath of office on August 1 and immediately started a round of receptions, meetings, and patrols with the officers in his new command.

Selected from more than 40 well-qualified applicants, Klugh had served for more than 27 years with the police department of the City of Fairfax. He left with the rank of Deputy Chief.

"Everyone in Middleburg has made me feel welcome here," the Chief told the Eccentric. "People could not have been nicer, more welcoming, or more helpful . . . and that goes for not only the Town Council, staff, and my fellow officers, but everyone I've met here."

Background

Bill Klugh was born in Ohio, and moved with his family to the Vienna area of Northern Virginia when he was five. There he attended grammar school and graduated from George C. Marshall High School.

In 1984, he graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree and a minor in criminal justice.

His older brother was a policeman, Klugh told the Eccentric. "I guess he was a large part of why I became an officer as well," he said.

He applied for a job with the Fairfax Police Department his senior year at Madison, was hired immediately, and stayed there for well over a quarter century, rising steadily through the ranks.

Why Middleburg?

Ironically, Chief Klugh's reasons for leaving Fairfax are similar to those of former Town Administrator Jerry Schiro's decision to leave Middleburg: the vagaries of state and local pension systems.

Like Schiro, Klugh would have taken what both termed "major hits" to their retirement benefits had they decided to stay in their old jobs.

With two teen-age sons, one of them entering his senior year in high school, Middleburg seemed an excellent choice for Klugh. He and his wife have lived for years only half an hour's reverse commutes away.

From the town's perspective, the combination of Klugh's long-standing northern Virginia experience, the breadth and depth of his service record, and his longstanding commitment to both the theory and practice of community-oriented police work were especially appealing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Klugh also brings with him excellent management skills, budgeting and grantwriting experience.

Plans for the Middleburg Force

After only two weeks on the job Klugh was loathe to discuss plans for a force he is still getting to know.

"In a town like Middleburg," he told the Eccentric, "police officers, out of necessity, must do their jobs with a minimum of direct oversight and supervision. They must be not only well-trained, but self-motivated."

"Knowing the town, and the people who live here is critical," he said. "But Middleburg's standing as a tourist or visitor destination adds something special to the job. We represent the town to the outside world."

At this point, Klugh said, he is learning more from his fellow officers than he could possibly teach them. He hopes, he says, to be able to start returning the favor soon.

"Training is a special interest of mine," he said, "but I enjoy learning just as much as I do teaching. And my fellow officers are teaching me well."

In the mean time, Klugh is working with the town to address some fairly routine transition issues, including a computer failure and some minor telecommunications glitches.

In the months ahead he, Town Administrator Martha Semmes, the Town Council and staff will also be fine tuning a set of proposed revisions to the Middleburg police department's standing orders and the rules and regulations regarding police procedures.