A pile of 23 resumes shrunk to eight last week when Clarkston’s Police Chief Selection Committee met to officially begin hunting for the city’s next top cop.
‘The hiring of the next police chief is perhaps the most important recommendation the council will make to the city manager for the next several years,? said committee member and Councilman Mike Gawronski. ?(But) we strongly urge that if’we don’t find the ideal person, we don’t allow ourselves to be bound by a deadline, and that we beat the bushes (for another candidate).?
The committee, which also consists of city council members Kristy Ottman and Bill Rausch, will conduct initial interviews with the top eight candidates, then recommend three finalists to council. Charles Inabnit and Steve Arkwright, who both served on the city’s Police Study Committee, which ultimately recommended keeping the department intact, are also on the new committee. Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, offered to help out, as well.
‘They think it’s important that the person they hire have a good relationship with us,? said LaBair, who recently returned from an intense 11-week training at the FBI National Academy in Virginia. ‘And I appreciate that; I agree.?
LaBair, who reviewed the stack of resumes, said he was impressed with the caliber of applicants, noting the city has several outstanding candidates for the position.
‘Most of them are retired from large local departments,? he said. ‘From the names I recognize, which are most of them, I don’t think the city can go wrong.?
LaBair said he was able to draw from several sources to help expand and develop a list of interview questions initially provided by the Michigan Municipal League.
The police chief position was advertised with a salary range of $38,000-$42,000, with minimum healthcare benefits available, and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office agreed to provide a background check for potential chief candidates. Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the OCSO provided the service when the City of Lake Angeles hired a police chief a few years back, and would do the same for Clarkston’no charge.
‘We’ll assign a seasoned investigator who does a complete background on the person,? said McCabe. ‘We verify everything they put in their application. It’s an extensive process.?
It will be the first time the city has completed extensive background checks on police personnel.
Interviews will begin next week.