With Hollister’s top choice for police chief bypassing the job
earlier this month, officials are now hoping the new leader will
take office by late September.
City Manager Dale Shaddox said on Tuesday he will re-evaluate
seven finalists and hopes to gain City Council confidence for a new
choice by late August. That would allow the finalist to give at
least 30 days notice at his current post, according to Shaddox.
With Hollister’s top choice for police chief bypassing the job earlier this month, officials are now hoping the new leader will take office by late September.
City Manager Dale Shaddox said on Tuesday he will re-evaluate seven finalists and hopes to gain City Council confidence for a new choice by late August. That would allow the finalist to give at least 30 days notice at his current post, according to Shaddox.
“I’m looking at the remaining list of seven very qualified candidates,” Shaddox said. “I’m looking at that, and once I’m comfortable with someone, I’ll be bringing it back to the Council.”
Shaddox does not plan on communicating with other officials throughout the search process because the city manager has sole responsibility for hiring and firing department heads.
Shaddox will, however, allow Council members to interview the final candidate. The Council also interviewed Jeff Miller, former Rohnert Park public safety director, one week before he withdrew his name.
Councilman Tony LoBue agreed with Shaddox’s stance. He said Council members should trust the city manager’s decision.
“I’m confident that our new city manager (Shaddox started in May) will have the capability and understanding of what Hollister needs as the next police chief,” LoBue said. “And, he’ll bring us the right choice.”
After the Free Lance reported Miller as the final candidate on July 16, information surfaced about Miller’s past in Rohnert Park – his first police chief role.
Miller resigned in October 2001 after only 18 months because the Rohnert Park police and firefighters union expressed discontent with his leadership. He left the job for a patrol officer position in the City of Sonoma, where he is currently a sergeant.
Nine days ago, Miller decided to withdraw from his HPD candidacy because Rohnert Park union officers repeated critical sentiments about Miller and warned the Hollister Council members against his hiring.
“This whole thing turned into a circus act,” LoBue said.
The chief position has been vacant since Bill Pierpoint announced his retirement in March after five years on the job. Interim Police Chief Larry Todd said he plans to stay until the hiring of a new chief. He had initially planned on leaving on Monday.
“Unless I’m otherwise asked by the city manager, my commitment was to stay here until they hire somebody,” Todd said on Tuesday.
For the past week, Shaddox has been busy “following up” on the Council’s July 21 adoption of a budget proposal, he said. Though he plans to narrow the police chief pool again soon.
Councilman Robert Scattini said regardless of the recent difficulties selecting a chief, the city should not rush the decision.
“I don’t want the city to plug that hole because we’re anxious to get somebody in there,” Scattini said.
