Chief Al Fear joined the Lamar Police Department in July 2024 after a nationwide search. He has made immediate impacts on the department and its divisions to bring the department to full staff, improve morale, and grow the department's visibility in the community.  In January 2025, Fear completed a reorganization to realign sworn staff with the approval of the Lamar City Council and administration. 

Fear is a proven leader and is passionate about helping others succeed. His beliefs in transparency, accountability, innovation, and collaboration in leadership will serve him well in Lamar. Fear joined the City of Lamar from the Sterling (CO) Police Department as Commander of Police Operations, where he supervised the agency's day-to-day operations, and handled community concerns and program development. Fear has substantial experience in community outreach, policy development and implementation, mental wellness, tactical operations, budgeting, contract negotiations, investigations, and training. He has held several law enforcement positions including commander, director, academy instructor, special response team medic, investigator, and officer. 

Fear has been a speaker at multiple events, won several honors and awards from the US Department of Justice, and has media and community impact experience.  He is also a certified trainer in several organizational and law enforcement topics including explicit bias, peer support, suicide prevention, being an active bystander, defensive tactics, officer survival, and advanced leadership strategies. Fear has an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Organization Leadership, and is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.