S'ville to look near, far for police chief

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BY VANESSA RENDERMAN
vrenderman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3241 | Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | (11 comment(s))

SCHERERVILLE | The town's next police chief could come from outside the department.

Police commissioners on Tuesday decided to open the search to internal and external candidates, although they have no immediate plans to hire a search firm to assist, Commissioner Kevin Connelly said.

The decision upset Patrolman Stephen Burton, president of Schererville FOP Lodge No. 170.

Burton said he thinks the department has enough qualified candidates that it should promote from the ranks.

"We have the resources within the department," he said.

The position will be advertised in the police station, in local newspapers and on Web sites for Indiana's Public Employees Retirement Fund and the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, Connelly said.

The usual state requirements, such as minimum age and citizenship, apply. A minimum of five years of supervisory experience is necessary. The only outside preference the commission would like to see in a candidate so far is a bachelor's degree, Connelly said.

Resumes need to be sent via certified mail to a post office box that will be listed in the ad. The commission will accept resumes until Oct. 1.

The plan is to have a recommendation for a new chief by Jan. 1, Commissioner Ray Urchell said.

Urchell said he doesn't want the commission to be locked into that date.

Although it is important to fill the position in a timely manner, it needs to be done right, he said.

The goal is to make the process as transparent as possible, he said.

The Police Commission is a recommending body, and the Town Council is not required to hire a new chief based on the commission's recommendation. When the Town Council removed David Dowling as chief of police earlier this month, it did so without a recommendation from the Police Commission.

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Mike wrote on Aug 27, 2008 6:12 PM:

" What a shame. No one on that department good enought huh? How pathetic the town council is. Spend, spend, spend and then spend some more. I agree with the person who wrote they want to hire from outside so they can control their pick.

I was under the impression the town has a spending freez. Oh, silly me thats just for the departments. Not the town council. I'm l'm looking forward to the next town election. Something has to change. "

citizen t wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:34 PM:

" Hopefully Schererville has the sense to realize they shouldn't hire a police chief (no matter if he's inside or outside) with visible tattoos! Tattoos effect how one does their job, obviously! ha! "

Question wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:36 PM:

" What if the person best for the job has tattoos???? "

fishnman wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:53 AM:

" hiring from within usually means more politics or playing favorites for some. If they are serious about not being political, hire the best qualified candidate , whether from within or outside the department and give the him the ability to do his job , no favors , no politics. How many in politics or on the department would favor that? "

Former Schererville Citizen wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:26 AM:

" Let's address the comments of the previous writers. Is there a current Schererville Officer that would have the best interest of the department at heart and not his own self promotion? If you have a candidate for the spot then name them right here. Get their name in front of the Police Commission and citizens. No guts-no glory. "

Hire Chuck Norris wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:06 AM:

" Better check the new chief for tatoos!
Don't forget to include a salary of $250,000 or more and you can raise the the garbage fee or add a new fee for the old fee and so on to pay for it! "

lmc wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:11 AM:

" Just like Munster. Maybe Schererville should hire one of the guys from Munster and Munster can hire one of the guys from Schererville and save some money. "

Just make sure wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:13 AM:

" Be sure to check that he has NO tattoos. We all know that guys with tattoos are criminals, how can they fight crime? "

wolfie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 5:21 AM:

" They will hire an outsider, someone they can control without political interference "

COPPER wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:46 AM:

" What's the matter with promoting from within? "

oh boy wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:41 AM:

" Wow. No faith in any of the 48 officers that Schererville has to be chief? These new Republicans are really shaking things up. Did Dowling really have to go? Politics! When is the next election? "

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