The application phase is over. It”s time for the city to begin choosing a permanent police chief.
The application deadline for the position ended Thursday, and Pat Mitchell, Columbus human resource director, said the city received 82 applications. Six of the applicants are people from within the Columbus Police Department; two other applicants are local, though there are no applicants from the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office.
“I can already tell you around 90 percent are from out of town,” she said, noting the city would not release the résumés of applicants for privacy reasons.
The city is performing the search itself, and the next phase is for a city-appointed search committee of about 18 people to review applicants and narrow the pool to five candidates.
“The mayor has put together a committee. … I”m sure they will be calling a meeting soon,” Ward 3 City Councilman Charlie Box said. “Each councilman appointed someone from their ward, and the mayor selected some people.”
Box continued that there is no set time line, and the committee is “not in a big hurry.”
“They want to make sure they are doing it right. It”s a big decision and they want to go slow on purpose,” he said.
Box”s selection for the committee is Robert “Uncle Bunky” Williams, a retired LCSO investigator.
Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor said he has not made a decision on his selection but should “by the end of the week.” Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens could not be reached for comment. Fred Stewart, Ward 4 councilman, said he has not made a decision. Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem chose Sandra Jackson, a community activist, and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin selected Mark Smith, president of the CPI Group employment agency.
Mayor Robert Smith said he also will be a committee member, and the other members include: Councilmen Karriem, Box and Gavin; City Operating Officer David Armstrong; Mitchell; three local pastors; and three members of the local media.
The original application deadline was set for Sept. 1, but the city extended it another week. Qualified applicants are expected to have at least 10 years of experience, including five in a supervisor role. The position pays $70,000 to $75,000 annually.
Selvain McQueen, former head of the Criminal Investigations Division, has held the role of interim police chief since the City Council fired Joseph St. John from the post in July. McQueen would not say whether he is one of the 82 applicants.
Mitchell said Smith would consult the city”s legal counsel regarding releasing applicants” names.
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