Candidate for IACP Fourth Vice President: Blair Myhand
Blair Myhand began his public safety career in 1987, when he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The Old Guard is the Army’s official escort to the President of the United States. Later, he served in both the Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guards until retiring in 2011 as an Infantry First Sergeant. His service includes two combat tours; one each to Afghanistan and Iraq. Most notably, he is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism on September 11, 2001.
He began his law enforcement career in 1994, with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. He was assigned to the Third District and later to the Emergency Response Team. He joined the Apex Police Department in Apex, North Carolina in 2005, where he served several assignments and ultimately commanded every division. He was hired as Chief of Police for the Clayton, NC Police Department in 2017, gaining hard-earned experience during his tenure.
Over his career, Blair has participated in many national and international events such as: the Million Man March, Presidential Inaugurations, Y2K, several high-profile protests, and international terrorism incidents. Most notably, he was one two officers who were the first Metropolitan Police Officers to enter the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, only minutes after the attack.
Blair has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Waldorf College and a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University. He is a graduate of the 252nd Session of the FBI National Academy. He is an active member for the North Carolina FBI National Academy Associates and the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police where he served as the 2023 President for both associations the same year. He is the current co-chair for the Civilian Law Enforcement Military Cooperation Committee (CLEMCC) and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) since 2014.
In February 2021, Blair became the Chief of Police for the Hendersonville Police Department in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He leads a staff of 75 employees and manages a $7m annual budget. Blair is happily married to his wife Nana. Together, with their Sheltie, named Tam, they live in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. Blair enjoys living and working in a supportive department and community.
Candidate Statement
My name is Blair Myhand, and I am seeking your support for the IACP 4th Vice President position. I am passionate about ethical policing and dedicated to promoting continuous improvement in our ranks. I am humbled and honored to be given this amazing opportunity to make a positive impact on policing. I commit to you that I will lead with integrity and honor to the best of my ability.
Thirty years of policing has brought many challenges; some good and some bad. Every one of the experiences has molded me into the leader I am today. I have learned from my successes and my failures. I pride myself on my integrity and my dedication to professionalism as a leader. I am wholly committed to ethical leadership and adherence to the highest standards of our field. I am disciplined, loyal, and respectful to others. In the end, I believe we must always model effective policing in our every action and decision.
The areas I feel are most important and where I will focus my efforts are:
- Officer Safety and Wellness
We must work to lower line of duty deaths rates by improving officer fitness and wellness. Nearly a third of the line of duty deaths annually are due to medical issues. And, while the numbers are improving, promoting personal fitness and wellness programs are essential to reducing these numbers even further. We must continue to invest in officer mental health and wellness programs that destigmatize seeking mental health treatment within our profession. Programs like embedded mental health professionals, peer support programs, and critical incident stress debriefings must be commonplace in departments everywhere.
- Trust Building
Strengthening trust between our organizations and the public is essential. The investments we make today will sustain us in difficult times. The IACP Trust Building Campaign is a highly effective method of demonstrating a strengthened bond between law enforcement and the public. People want a police department, not a police force. We need to work with our communities to improve quality of life and protect people from harm.
- Bias-Free Policing
Police officers are not inherently discriminatory. Most come to work every day hoping to make a difference in other people’s lives. While there are some among us who allow bias to creep into their work, systemic racism is not a part of law enforcement. It is important that we recognize that, regardless of how ethical we operate today, that has not always been the case. We must continue to reinforce that 21st century policing is void of bias by demonstrating that we serve everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, social economic status, or political affiliation. We do this by constantly and consistently holding ourselves and our officers accountable for our actions.
- Alternative Response Protocols
Over the last decade, certainly the last five years, have probably been the most challenging time in modern law enforcement history. If we have learned nothing, it is that we must adopt an “always improving” mentality about our work. We must learn and support innovative approaches to policing. Alternatives to police response let our officers get back to doing what law enforcement was created to do; protect our communities from harm. Methods such as embedded social workers, victim advocates, civilian crash investigators can promote a better police/community relationship.
- Leadership
Good leadership is critical. We must invest in the personal and professional development of each other and our people. Our employees, and our communities, expect and deserve to be led by the most capable leaders possible. We must coach, counsel, and mentor each other every day. Confident leaders train their subordinates how to do the leader’s job. It is vital that we hire high-caliber people and that we prepare our organizations for the future. We must operate above the line and make policing better every day.
I appreciate your support, and I promise to listen and communicate your interests in the IACP.
