Col. Mathew Packard took the helm as chief of the Colorado State Patrol today, and at the center of his message was cracking down on impaired drivers.

Traffic deaths are on the rise in Colorado over the past two years, reversing what had been a decade-long trend of falling fatalities.

After Packard was sworn in by Gov. John Hickenlooper, he spoke with reporters about his priorities as the state’s new top law enforcement officer.

“We’ve got a lot of things we’re going to work on,” he said. “Number one, enforcement will always be a part of what we do as the Colorado State Patrol, but what I would really love us to do is be even more involved in our communities. … We’re going to work hard to engage more with our communities around the state, plant that seed and let the members of the community help us furthering our message of ridding the road of impaired driving. Again, it’s quality of life. Convincing your neighbors, your family, your friends that driving impaired is not a good option.”

Community policing, he said, is also a big part of changing public perception as police brutality headlines continue to receive national attention.

“If we’re accused and there’s an investigation, we’ll do a thorough job,” Packard said. “If people need to be held accountable, we’ll do that.”

Packard started his career with the Colorado State Patrol in 2000 as a field trooper in Castle Rock. He is married with three children and a graduate from Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton and the University of Northern Colorado.

Packard replaces Chief Scott Hernandez, who is retiring after 30 years with the patrol.