The lone finalist for the Hollister police chief vacancy removed
himself from consideration on Monday
– less than 12 hours before the City Council was scheduled to
confirm his hiring.
The lone finalist for the Hollister police chief vacancy removed himself from consideration on Monday – less than 12 hours before the City Council was scheduled to confirm his hiring.
Jeff Miller, who did not return messages during the past week, withdrew his name for the position, citing negative comments about his past experience as a police chief in Rohnert Park, City Manager Dale Shaddox said.
After Monday’s Council meeting, Shaddox announced Miller’s decision and discussed Miller’s reasons for backing out.
“The candidate specifically referred to concerns about members of the police officers union in Rohnert Park (Miller’s only previous chief role) and their negative statements about him,” Shaddox said. “Secondly, he expressed concern that there was so much media and press attention being paid to his candidacy here in Hollister.”
Miller’s problems with officers in Rohnert Park – where he was public safety director for 18 months starting in March 2000 – surfaced during the past few days. In Rohnert Park, he headed both the police and fire departments, which included about 100 employees.
He resigned from Rohnert Park because of internal pressure from the police and firefighters union, along with displeasure from the Rohnert Park City Council, according to reports published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
A union-organized petition stating discontent with Miller’s performance had been signed by 52 of 70 union members in the department. During Miller’s tenure, six officers left the department, according to former union President Vince Amato.
Several members of that union, including Amato, have repeated those same sentiments publicly since July 16 when the Free Lance reported Miller as the lone finalist for the job.
“We have some very mean-spirited people in Rohnert Park that will just not let go of it,” Shaddox said. “And I’m very angry with them.”
Rohnert Park police and firefighters union officials could not be reached for comment before press time.
Shaddox said Miller expressed concern about entering a new position in Hollister while being characterized by negative publicity stemming from his experience in Rohnert Park.
“It would have been a hole he would have to dig himself out of,” Shaddox said.
Miller’s family, Shaddox said, had a difficult time with the controversy in Rohnert Park. Miller left that job for a patrol officer position in the City of Sonoma, where he is currently a sergeant.
Shaddox said Miller was “very interested” in the HPD job, and he “regrettably withdrew.”
“I still remain committed that he would have done an outstanding job as police chief for us,” Shaddox said.
Hollister has not employed a permanent police chief since March. Shaddox recently selected Miller, 45, to replace former Police Chief Bill Pierpoint and Interim Chief Larry Todd. He chose Miller from a group of three finalists and eight semi-finalists.
With Miller’s decision Monday to decline the position, Shaddox said he would bring another candidate – of the seven remaining semi-finalists – to the Council for consideration. There is no time frame. But Shaddox said he wanted to choose a new chief “as rapidly as I can.”
“I’ve got a group of seven that are going to be great, I think,” he said.
In the meantime, Todd will remain with the department as its interim leader, Shaddox said. Todd initially planned to leave Aug. 4.
Shaddox expressed frustration that Miller – who Shaddox called a “very good candidate, a qualified candidate” – has changed his mind.
“I think he would have been a very good leader within the department and would have very quickly earned the respect of the entire department,” Shaddox said.
The seven remaining candidates include current police chiefs and others who are high ranking police officials, Shaddox said. There are no candidates from within the HPD.
