Scott Finlayson loves photography, makes stained-glass windows for a hobby and has sat in meetings with FBI personnel and homeland security officials discussing high-profile programs for the past two years. In November, the Springville police chief finished his term as the general chair of the State Association of Chiefs of Police, a position in which he represented police chiefs from all 50 states as a liaison to different federal agencies.
For a man who is straightforward, honest and laced with moral value, the position provided a unique opportunity to share a piece of Springville and communities like it with the nation. “I’ve been able to share the Utah perspective with the morals and values of that perspective,” Finlayson said. “I’ve helped them because I can give them a perspective of a small agency.”

Finlayson, a father of four and a grandfather of more, has been a member of SACOP, as police call it, for the past six years. As chairman, he served on a board of 14 directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world’s largest and oldest police executive association. There are more than 19,000 IACP members worldwide from more than 89 countries. Police chiefs from Europe, South and Central America, Asia, the Middle East and North America make up the alliance. He said the agencies he worked with in his position often planned for the large police forces like NYPD or LAPD, but forgot about the smaller 10- or 20-man agencies. His position bolstered the small community aspect of police forces. “One of the things that I’ve seen – more importantly, what it’s done for Springville specifically – is what it’s done for smaller agencies everywhere,” Springville Lt. Dave Caron said of Finlayson’s term. “You may not see the result of that tomorrow, but down the road, the small-town or small-city input at the federal level will pay off for small-town agencies.” During his brief term, Finlayson worked with higher agencies on several law enforcement issues, including the retired officers bill – a bill allowing retired police officers to carry firearms – and the problems surrounding zylon, a type of material in bulletproof vests that was found to deteriorate.

Though his term is now over, it doesn’t mean his workload will lighten much. Finlayson will begin his ninth year as Springville’s police chief in 2005. “He loves his job, he loves the work, he loves law enforcement and the people that are in it,” Caron said. “He’s not just concerned with them getting the job done but with them becoming better people.”
Finlayson returned the compliment to the officers he’s worked with over the years, calling them an excellent staff who work very hard to keep Springville a safe place to live. He said the support from the police department and the City Council has buoyed him through his responsibilities both in the city and on the IACP board. He hopes his humbling experience heading up SACOP will improve the safety in Springville and communities across the nation like it in the years to come. “I’ve been able to see the best of the best and bring those programs back,” the policeman of 25 years said. “I feel very fortunate that I’ve had this opportunity.”