Interim Saline Police Chief May Be Appointed Dec. 19

Council gave city manager Todd Campbell the green light Monday night to move ahead with long and short-term plans to hire a chief for the police department.

At the the meeting, Campbell outlined the plan to replace long-time police chief Paul Bunten, . Campbell said council could have a recommendation for an interim chief at its next meeting, Dec. 19. The hiring of a permanent chief is four-to-six months away, he added.

“My position is that the police chief is just as important to (Saline) as the city manager’s position. It’s very important that we do our due diligence and do our best for the right fit so that we find the right person to lead our department, which is very well thought of in the county and Southeast Michigan,” Campbell said.

Campbell proposed that he and Mayor Gretchen Driskell conduct face-to-face interview with three interim candidates he has identified.

“I’ve made several calls to law enforcement professionals to get some ideas and I have three very good candidates. I have spoken with all three via phone in detail,” Campbell told council.

Following the meeting, Campbell declined to identify the candidates.

Campbell said the long-term process would be to work with an outside search firm to help develop a profile for what the city will want from a new chief. The process could include a townhall meeting where residents could tell city officials what they want to see in a police chief.  The process would also involve consulting other department heads in the city and employees in the police department. A committee, which might involve the city manager, law enforcement officers from other agencies, and members of council, would review applicants, conduct interviews with 8 to 12 candidates, and then create a lists of three finalists who would face more extensive interviews before a chief is appointed.

“It will take about five or six months to do it right,” Campbell said.

There will be no shortage of qualified applicants, Campbell said, noting that he’s already had several calls from people interested in the job.

“I told them the process is not open yet and that until then, please hold on to their resumes,” Campbell said.

Answering a question from Mayor Driskell, Campbell said he would prefer that the city not hire the interim chief as its permanent chief and that he’s let interim candidates know that the position is short-term.