Saline Police Chief Candidate Field Grows to 6

The field of candidates in the running to become the next chief of the Saline Police Department has grown from five to six.

At Monday’s meeting, City Manager Todd Campbell announced that the hiring committee has expanded its list to include David Northrop, who is Director of Public Safety for the City of Sturgis. Campbell was former assistant city manager in Sturgis.

Campbell told city council that Northrop added to the list to ensure that the city finds the right person for the job. Northrop was originally one of the final six candidates for the position. He withdrew his name, according to Campbell, because he did not believe he could comply with the city’s timeline to have a new chief in place by July 1.

Campbell said that Northrop’s inclusion could mean the city will go beyond July 1 before it has it’s next permanent chief.

“We still hope to have a chief in place by July 1, but it’s important that we find the right person. We felt that we could potentially be sacrificing the right person for the job (by holding to the timeline),” Campbell said.

The hiring committee held oral boards with five candidates last week. The committee is expected to recommend two or three candidates to city council to make a final determination.

This is the second change made while the process was underway. The to join the field later in the process.

The other five candidates are Lindman, retired Dearborn deputy chief and interim police chief Gregg Brighton, retired Davison Township chief Larry Hrinik, deputy Canton Township chief Robert J. Kerr and Troy police captain Gerald S. Scherlinck.

The city is replacing long-time chief, will not be replaced due to budgetary issues.