SPARKS — Amid a sea of blue suits, badges and family, Steve Keefer raised his right hand and took the oath of his new office Monday. Keefer is Sparks’ newest police chief.

Almost 21 years ago, Keefer walked into the Sparks Police Department looking to volunteer.

“I just wanted to see if I could fit into this type of career and service,” Keefer said of his early days as a police volunteer.

He soon became a full-fledged officer.

“He has worked in virtually every aspect of the police department,” said former Sparks police chief John Dotson, who watched proudly from the back of the room as Keefer was appointed.

“I have promoted him just about every time (he received a major promotion) up until this one,” Dotson added. “I promoted him to deputy police chief before I left.”

After Dotson’s retirement in August 2008, Keefer worked for a few months as acting chief until the department hired Steve Asher for the department head job. Asher also looked on Monday as Keefer was sworn in. Asher left the department in October 2009 for a job with Nevada’s state fusion center, an information clearinghouse for state and federal agencies concerning homeland security.

“He is a hard-working, dedicated employee and someone who has worked his way through the ranks,” Asher said of Keefer. “He will take the city where it has never been. He is that kind of worker. He is the best choice this council could have made.”

As for future plans for the department, Keefer is just focused on improving what is already there.

“I am a little uncertain at this time,” Keefer said of potential changes for the department under his leadership. “I have been a part of a lot of the things we are doing now.”

Keefer, a deputy police chief before Monday’s oath, has been acting as the city’s temporary police chief for almost a year.

Under his new title, Keefer will not be a part of the city’s Police Protective Association union but rather a city department head.

Keefer will be earning $135,688 per year along with a car allowance. His former salary as deputy police chief and acting police chief was $130,850, which included a 10 percent pay increase from what he was making as deputy police chief to compensate for the added responsibilities.

While Keefer is getting a raise and a promotion, he is also taking on a few more sleepless nights when tough decisions come.

“The sacrifice is the responsibility that comes with this job,” Keefer said. “It is different when those tough items land on your desk.”