Selection of police chief a joint effort
Brooksville plans to involve the community and law officers to hire the right person for the position.
By AUSTIN BOGUES
Published July 11, 2007
BROOKSVILLE - The city's interim police chief will help choose Brooksville's next top cop. So, too, will the sheriff and other law enforcement officials.
Residents may be involved as well.
City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha wants to get strong community involvement in the selection of the new chief, perhaps through a series of town hall question-and-answer events.
That's in keeping with her view of the position.
"A police chief has to be someone who interacts very heavily in the community," she said. "We have to work hard to maintain the overall level of integrity and professionalism within the law enforcement agency."
Norman-Vacha said she has begun advertising for the job and she hopes to have a new chief aboard by the end of August.
The city is seeking a candidate with 10 years of experience as a law enforcement officer with at least five spent in a supervisory role. The pay scale for the position is between $60,613 and $93,444.
Margaret Bosack, acting human resources director for Brooksville, said candidates should have at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field, and preferably a master's degree.
Interim police Chief Frank Ross will serve on the selection committee, as will Sheriff Richard Nugent and several other law enforcement professionals to be determined.
One person who will not be on the short list of hopefuls is Ross. "I'm not interested in the position. I'm not a candidate," he said.
Ross said he's looking forward to spending more time with family, including a son who is playing football in college and a son who plays high school football.
"I felt a professional obligation to help Brooksville during this time," said Ross, who retired in 2004 but accepted the job as interim police chief in April.
The city is looking to hire a full-time police chief for the first time since 1985. The new search was launched in the aftermath of a tumultuous period for the department after the departure of embattled Chief Ed Tincher.
Tincher was suspended from the department after allegations of misconduct, including using threats and intimidation, as well as discriminating against female employees.
Tincher filed suit against the city, eventually settling to terms that he would be placed on unpaid leave until retiring at the end of the year. A recent audit showed widespread mismanagement of evidence including handlings of guns, drugs and cash.
Ross, who has worked in law enforcement for more than 40 years, said that optimistically the city may receive between 30 and 50 applications for the job, but that number will need to be condensed to the best candidates.
"Even though we have over 300 chiefs in the state of Florida, they all bring their own personality and their own leadership management style, many things will be consistent but different."
Ross has met with several people interested in the job who have visited the department to get an idea of the structure and organization.
Norman-Vacha said that Brooksville is working in the search with the Florida Police Chief's Association and the Florida League of Cities.
"I'm hoping it's not overwhelming but that it provides enough candidates for it to be a difficult decision," she said.
Austin Bogues can be reached at abogues@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6117.