Jeff Miller will start as the Hollister police chief Sept. 8
– two months after being chosen as the lone finalist by City
Manager Dale Shaddox.
”
I’m really anxious to get Jeff on board, especially with the
positive atmosphere,
”
Shaddox said.
”
It just feels really good right now.
”
Jeff Miller will start as the Hollister police chief Sept. 8 – two months after being chosen as the lone finalist by City Manager Dale Shaddox.
“I’m really anxious to get Jeff on board, especially with the positive atmosphere,” Shaddox said. “It just feels really good right now.”
Miller, 45, was confirmed by the Hollister City Council on Aug. 10. He currently works night shifts as a sergeant for the Sonoma Police Department and could not be reached for comment.
His official swearing in – which Shaddox said will likely occur on Sept. 5 – will end a search to replace former Police Chief Bill Pierpoint, who announced his retirement in late March.
Since then, interim Chief Larry Todd has overseen the department. He has gained widespread respect from the Hollister Police Officers Association during his five-month stint, according to union President Ray Wood, a sergeant with the HPD.
Todd is expected to stay on board until Sept. 10 to help ease the transition. Incidentally, when Todd was police chief in Los Gatos, Miller was the second in command captain of that department for five years.
Todd had initially expected to depart the HPD post on Aug. 4.
“I was feeling a little bad we had to ask Larry Todd to stay on longer than he anticipated,” Shaddox said.
Todd’s stay here has been extended because Miller initially declined the position in mid-July after reports surfaced about his past as a chief in Rohnert Park. He resigned from the 18-month stint because of widespread public criticism from the Rohnert Park police union.
Miller’s interest in taking the Hollister job was renewed by a showing of public support in his candidacy from the Hollister police union. Shaddox decided to re-offer the position Aug. 6, and Miller accepted.
Miller will be the first Hollister department head contracted under an “at will” employment status, Shaddox said. The change from the old civil service status will shorten the termination process and allow the city manager to fire department heads without cause. The six other current department heads will remain civil service employees.
