Search for police chief goes on the road

St. Petersburg officials will travel to Ohio and Tennessee to check on two finalists.

By LEANORA MINAI

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 9, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- The search for the city's police chief moves to Ohio and Tennessee next week.

Employee relations director Gary Cornwell and Don McRae, the city's former chief of staff, will fly to Cleveland on Sunday and then to Nashville on Tuesday to research two of the four finalists for the job.

"I just want to get as much background information as I can," said Mayor Rick Baker, who is expected to hire the city's 12th chief by Oct. 5, when Chief Goliath Davis III retires.

Cornwell and McRae will spend two days in each city, interviewing leaders about the candidates' strengths and weaknesses. They return to St. Petersburg on Aug. 16.

In Cleveland, they will research Patrick Stephens, that city's deputy chief. In Nashville, they will explore the background of Luther Hunter, commander of the police department's school services division.

The other finalists are St. Petersburg Assistant Chief Chuck Harmon and Mack Vines, who was the city's chief from 1974 to 1980. A trip is expected to Dallas, where Vines also served as police chief.

Originally, the list of finalists included St. Petersburg former Assistant Chief Bill Proffitt, who retired, sold his St. Petersburg house and moved to Bradenton. Proffitt said he was removed from the list because he refused to move back to St. Petersburg, a condition of employment that was not in the nationwide advertisement.

Cornwell, who acknowledged that Proffitt would have been a finalist, said Baker wants the new chief to live in the city.

Cornwell said Wednesday that his itinerary for Cleveland and Nashville was not finalized.

"At this point in time, I have one appointment set with the police chief in Cleveland, and that's the only one I have set so far," Cornwell said.

Baker will receive a report from Cornwell and McRae when they return.

McRae retired as chief of staff in March.

All finalists will be interviewed by Baker and his staff in St. Petersburg on Aug. 22. That night, the city will host a public reception with the candidates. The reception is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg Campus Activity Center, Second Street and Sixth Avenue S.

- Staff Writer Leanora Minai can be reached at (727) 893-8406 or at minai@sptimes.com.

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