Marquette native Scott Sarvello, whose first job after college was with the Negaunee Police Department, has been named the new Police Chief in Clawson. (Photo courtesy of Royal Oak Tribune)

CLAWSON — Clawson’s new police chief is a resident of the city with law enforcement in his blood and a memory of when he first interviewed to be a patrolman here.

“They asked me my goals,” said Police Chief Scott Sarvello, who will take over when Chief Harry Anderson steps down this month. “I told them my first goal was to get the job and then to become chief of police later in my career.”

It was a bold gambit, but understandable given Sarvello’s upbringing. He grew up in Marquette where his father, Sal, was the chief of police until 2000.

“Law enforcement was my whole goal,” he said. “I went to Northern Michigan University and majored in criminal justice,” Sarvello said.

At 6-foot-5, Sarvello stands out in a crowd but retains a small-town affability. His first job after college was with the Negaunee Police Department.

“I really like the small-town feeling in Clawson and my family and I have lived here for 16 years,” he said. “I’ll be a police chief who is connected to the city and involved.”

Sarvello, 50, has long been a fixture in the community, both in and outside of the city police department.

His two sons now attend Michigan State and one of his daughters is at Clawson High School and the other attends the middle school.

“I’ve coached football, baseball and boys and girls basketball,” said Sarvello, who has been treasurer of the Clawson Athletic Boosters Club for the past dozen years.

His wife, Lisa, runs the school store for sporting events.

Sarvello will oversee a department of 17 sworn officers in Clawson.

“I think it would be good to push our officers into more community policing,” he said.

“I want them to be more involved in community events. Community policing is coming back strong in law enforcement and being involved at community events is part of that. There are more and more events coming to Clawson and officers need to be out there talking to residents and business owners.”

Sarvello rose through the ranks after he snagged his patrolman’s job in Clawson 25 years ago.

He became a sergeant in 2000, a lieutenant two years later, then was picked to head up investigations in 2007.

For the past seven years he has been an investigator and coordinator of the Major Crimes Assistance Team in Oakland County.

MCAT is a multi-jurisdictional team that investigates homicides and other serious crimes.

Sal and Joan Sarvello, the new chief’s parents, drove down from Marquette to witness the ceremony.

“Joan and I are very proud,” Sal Sarvello said. “And it’s even extra special because it’s a job I once held myself.”

His dad offered him some advice on the community side of a police chief’s duties.

“He told me if somebody invites you to something, to make sure you go,” Sarvello said. “Because if you don’t go to those (community) events you’ll end up not being connected to anybody.”

The Mining Journal contributed to this story.