Chief search goes national
JANESVILLE — Janesville will conduct a nationwide search for its next police chief, but it will have at least one internal candidate.
"My resume is done, my references are contacted, and my application letter is written," Deputy Chief Dave Moore told the police and fire commission Thursday.
The commission appointed Moore acting chief effective Jan. 31, the day after Chief Neil Mahan retires.
Moore served as acting chief before Mahan was hired in 2004. He and Deputy Chief Steve Kopp applied for the position then, too.
The commission will once again conduct a nationwide search for chief, but it will do so without the aid of a search firm, the commission decided Thursday.
City Manager Eric Levitt estimated a search firm would cost $20,000 to $25,000.
"We can definitely do it in-house," he said.
The commission considered limiting the search to internal candidates, but Levitt and Mahan recommended searching nationwide.
"You don't know unless you look," Mahan said.
Even if the city hires internally, a nationwide search would give the new chief credibility because he or she would have competed against other qualified candidates, Mahan said.
Plus, a strictly in-house search could create the impression that the department is a "good ol' boys" network, he said.
The commission traditionally has alternated between hiring external and internal candidates. It hired Mahan from California in 2004, and promoted former Chief George Brunner after an in-house process in 1994.
Levitt said he has encouraged several department employees to apply.
"A national search doesn't mean you have to say you're not doing this in-house," he said.
One downside to a nationwide search is it takes longer, he said. Susan Musick, city human resources director, estimated a nationwide search would take three to four months.
She will draft a job description and tentative timeline for the commission to approve at its February meeting. After commission approval, she will post the opening with national police organizations.
Jan 11, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.
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Dave Moore is the weakest candidate for this position. He couldn't make a decision if his life depended on it, holds insane grudges and when he does act it's all in the interest of self image. Moore would be nothing more than a carbon copy of the former Chief (his mentor) and would be a step backwards for the department. Listen to current Chief Mahan and look outside.
Jan 10, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
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nothing wrong with hiring moore..
Jan 10, 2009 at 2:16 p.m.
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I sure hope whom ever they hire has a high tolerence for frustration. And perhaps some creative ideas for how to handle our Drug and DUI issues.
I know there is a Sheriff somewhere that makes all of the inmates wear pink. They work for their room and board, and they sleep in tents, without air conditioning. They eat balogna sandwiches, that they have to make themselves.
The JPD and the Sheriff Dept. appear to be doing their jobs, but for some unknown reason the courts just keep turning everybody back out into the community. Just look at the Public Record for today. Felonies are being reduced to misdemeanors. One person was arrested for their 4th DUI.
Hello, if taking a persons driving privilage away does not stop them from driving (drunk again) Lock them up.
How much does a car weigh 3,000 - 4,500 pounds? Under the best of circumstances they are weapons of "Mass Destruction", now lets add some snow and ice, and booze or drugs...
Driving is a privilage, if we can not afford to lock these folks up due to overcrowding in the jail, impound the cars and sell them at auction, what a tidy sum that would be to our City/County budget.
Ok enough venting. I just hope that the NEW Chief has some new creative ideas to help us solve our reoccuring problems. Whom ever the new Chief is, we should welcome him or her and stand behind them 100%.
Jan 10, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
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the reason they want to go national is it's a free trip to a nice warm place. If they stay in house they have no excuses to get a free trip. what a rip off of tax payers money. if they thought they could get away with it they would make it a world wide search and get a free trip to france or somewhere else.
Jan 10, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
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Even though it looks like we might look at outside candidates,I think Mr. Moore would be a great choice for this position.
Jan 9, 2009 at 6:28 p.m.
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This is terrific to see how they broke with tradition and saved the city the $15,000 to 20,000 dollars a search firm would charge!
Jan 9, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
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Hiring the current chief from outside of the departement was the second best thing to happen to JPD in a very long time. (The best thing was the departure of the person whom the current chief replaced.)
Getting new ideas and a broader prospective has moved the department out of the nineteenth century and into the twenty-first. The JPD now has resources it would never would have had under the past administration and its cronies. Things like patrol rifles and two police dogs (remember how council member Brunner opposed the dogs and then changed his mind when he saw what way the wind was blowing? Same story on the bike tunnel).
I am glad to see the PFC agreed to look outside of the department. Let everyone who is qualified apply for the position and then select the best candidate from inside or outside the city.
Jan 9, 2009 at 4:37 p.m.
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I also agree let's look within to fill this position. I am sure we have a capable person right here to fill this position.. With out spending all our money on outside sources...
LET'S WAKE UP PEOPLE IN OFFICE ....
Jan 9, 2009 at 4:04 p.m.
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Wouldn't it make sense to look locally first, and if there isn't a competent individual for the job, then expand the search? Seems to me, the more jobs we keep local the better for Janesville at this time. Seems to me, we are all to anxious to look elsewhere, when qualified people are right here in our hometown.
Jan 9, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.
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I agree too. Just so long as they're used to the cold and snow so they can stay a while.
Jan 9, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
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I agree with Chief Mahan, nothing wrong with taking a look at outside candidates.
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