Columbus City Council officially began the search for a new police chief Tuesday night, approving a search committee, a job description and a salary range.
The council voted July 19 to form a 10-person committee, including at least four community members, to handle the search for a new chief following the retirement of Chief Fred Shelton. Shelton announced his intention to retire July 12, hours before a special-call city council meeting to discuss his job performance. His last day on the job was Monday.
Assistant Chief Doran Johnson has begun serving as interim chief and has previously said he would apply for the permanent position.
Tuesday night, Chief Operating Officer Jammie Garrett announced the roster of search committee members: Mayor Keith Gaskin, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene, Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones, Garrett, Human Resources Director Pat Mitchell, former Columbus Police Department Chief Pete Bowen, District Attorney Scott Colom, public defender Amanda Meadows and Civil Service Commission member Rita Felton.
“We tried to find people with legal experience, as well as law enforcement experience,” Garrett said. “I think we have a very well-balanced group.”
Gaskin said recommendations came from council members and the community at large.
“After the (July 19 meeting) I sent an email to the council that night and asked them to please work with (Garrett) on forming the committee,” Gaskin said. “I also forwarded to her any community members that had reached out to me (with recommendations).”
A detailed job description for the position was also developed, Mitchell said after the meeting. The city did not previously have one.
“In the past we had a position profile, which wasn’t a true job description,” she said. “It just talked about Columbus and the makeup of citizens. Now we want the person to have some personnel management training, budgeting experience and the ability to address issues that develop in the department without just turning a deaf ear.”
The job description says that at least a bachelor’s degree is preferred, Mitchell said, preferably in business, criminal justice, police administration or a closely related field.
Jones moved to accept the job description and committee recommendations, with a second from Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard. The motion passed 5-0; Mickens, who was present for the majority of the meeting, left as the police chief discussion was getting underway.
For the salary, Mitchell said she and Garrett suggested a range of between $74,000 and $90,000. The pay was previously around $72,000.
“We looked at neighboring cities and came up with that range,” Mitchell told The Dispatch after the meeting. “All of them were more than $74,000, and most were more than $90,000. Some were in excess of $100,000. We just hope that we see some good applicants.”
Mitchell said the application period will be open for 30 days, starting today.
Budget workshops set
In other business, the council set two public hearings for the city’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget planning process.
Hearings are set for 6 p.m. Aug. 30 and 5 p.m. Aug. 1. Both will be held at Trotter Convention Center.
The budget is slated to be adopted at the council’s Sept. 6 regular meeting.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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