A Jefferson City councilman expressed frustration about the process to get a new police chief in place.
At Monday night's city council meeting, Ward 1 Councilman Jack Deeken asked City Administrator Steve Crowell why more law enforcement members weren't on the initial interview committee.
"There's a huge amount of retired law enforcement talent in this community that I feel was left off," Deeken said. "This is the most important thing we're going to do on the council that will set the temper of how our community is run for the next 20 years."
Applications for the position were taken through March 20 after Chief Roger Schroeder announced his retirement in February. Schroeder has agreed to continue leading the Jefferson City Police Department until a replacement has been approved.
Crowell said the city received 19 applications, with a mix of internal and external applicants.
"City Council will absolutely be involved in this process," Crowell told Deeken.
Along with Crowell, the initial interview committee members and their affiliations include: Gail Strope, Jefferson City human resources director; Ryan Moehlman, city attorney; Gary Hill, Lincoln University police chief; Rod Chapel, president of Missouri NAACP; Carlos Graham, former city councilman; John Wheeler, Cole County sheriff; Natalie Newville, president of the Jefferson City Downtown Association; Ann Bax, United Way president; Zim Schwartze, Capitol Police chief; and Detective Jason Ambler, serving as representative for the police department on the committee.
Per the city's charter, the city administrator makes a recommendation to the mayor and City Council for the approval of department directors.
"I am using a selection and hiring process which I have successfully used previously for other department directors for the city," Crowell said.
"This isn't every other director," Deeken said. "This one is so important that we really have to get this one right."
"I understand that," Crowell told Deeken. "I've probably hired and fired more police chiefs than anybody in the state. I get it. The recommendations for chief will come to the council."
"Will we be just handed one person or two persons or will we have a vetting process that the council has input on?" Deeken asked. "I just want to make sure we get a good chief."
Deeken also told Crowell he wasn't "overly comfortable" with the committee he had chosen for the initial interviews.
"Anyone employed by the city being on there I think is a conflict," Deeken said. "I can give you some names that I think could have been helpful. I've talked to a lot of people in the community and they wanted me to ask about these things. They just thought more law enforcement members should have been on there."
"The first committee, in my view, helps to identify the capability or skills of the applicants," Crowell said. "The second committee will be looking at the fit. The people on this first committee are people I have chosen because I value their input.
"I cannot predetermine the recommendation I will make to the mayor and City Council," he added. "The council can do whatever they want to after that recommendation. They could bring all the candidates back and interview them if they wanted to, but the city charter says I need to make a recommendation and that's what I intend to do."
Deeken said he was confused why the United Way and Jefferson City Downtown Association were represented on the initial committee.
"If we were a big city I could understand the downtown association being on there, but I don't think having these groups on there get you the nuts and bolts we really need," Deeken said.
"I value both of their opinions and they've been involved in other processes including the hiring of a city administrator -- I think they got that right last time," Crowell said. "United Way deals with almost every organization in the community and I think it's important for a police chief to understand that collaboration with other organizations and be engaged with the community."
Crowell also noted a member of JCPD attends all the downtown association meetings, "so I think it's important to have a mix of law enforcement and community members involved."
Crowell said last month he anticipated at some point there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the candidates.
CORRECTION: This article was edited at 7:46 a.m. May 3, 2022, to correct the Jefferson City Downtown Association title of Natalie Newville.
Other council business:
Resolution to recognize Civil War event approved by Jefferson City Council
Council weighs new mutual aid pact between JCFD, county fire departments