By a vote of 4-2, the Columbus city council selected Selvain McQueen as the new police chief.
“This is a proud and crowning moment in my career,” McQueen said after the meeting. “I am thankful for the ones who supported me, and for the ones who didn’t, we are going to work together.
“As it relates to the citizens, I’m asking that we all work together and make our city a safer place to live.”
The council made the decision Monday night inside the Municipal Complex during a special-called meeting to make an official selection for the position. The police chief appointment was the only item on the budget, and there was no discussion prior to voting.
The votes went along racial lines. Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor and Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart – all of whom are black – voted in favor of appointing McQueen, who also is black. Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin – who are white – voted against the motion.
The meeting lasted no more than five minutes.
The council did not have any discussion of the three finalists on the heels of Thursday’s interviews. Curtis Brame, of North Chicago, Ill., and Robert Spinks, of Sequim, Wash., were the other two finalists who interviewed for the position in front of the council, mayor and around 30 residents.
Gavin, who used an interview evaluation sheet to determine his personal selection, said before the meeting began than Spinks was his choice.
“Spinks won the interview process, and he had the ‘it’ factor,” Gavin said. “I’m going to try and get him nominated, but we’ll see if it works.”
However, he did not get a window of opportunity as Karriem made the motion to appoint McQueen immediately after Mayor Robert Smith introduced the item. Mickens made the second.
Box said after the meeting that his vote against appointing McQueen was not a vote against him as much as it was a vote in favor of Spinks.
“I just had my thoughts about supporting Spinks,” Box said.
“I think (McQueen) will do a good job.”
McQueen has been the interim police chief since the council fired Joseph St. John in July and has served in the Columbus Police Department for almost 24 years. McQueen was former head of the CPD’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Spinks has about 30 years of experience in public service and worked as Sequim police chief from February 2005 to June 2010. Spinks previously served as police chief in Milton-Freewater, Ore., from 1997-2001 and as an undersheriff in Benton County, Ore.
Brame, the third finalist, has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience and started his career with the North Chicago Police Department in 1985. He rose through the ranks from patrol officer to deputy chief. He served as the department’s deputy chief from 2001-2005 and is Support Services Division commander.
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