Thursday, May 13, 1999
Cold Spring chooses chief; Florence in its search process
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
One Northern Kentucky city is close to hiring a new police chief, while another begins the interview process next week.
Cold Spring Mayor Paul Weghorn said Wednesday a conditional offer has been made to former Detective Jim Hales of the Campbell County Police Department in Alexandria.
In Florence, eight candidates will be evaluated starting Monday.
CANDIDATES
|
The eight candidates for Florence police chief are:
Lt. Col. Tom Cathman, the assistant chief;
Lts. Tom Dusing and Jim Chesser;
Sgts Don Baker, Tom Szurlinski, Bruce Graham and Don Davis
Patrolman First Class Wayne Staggs. |
Mr. Weghorn said the only thing missing is Mr. Hales' psychological evaluation, which Mr. Hales said should be available by the end of the week.
“It's just a matter of getting the report,” the mayor said. “We hope to have him on board in two weeks.”
Mr. Hales, 36, has been with Campbell County since 1993. He was a Cold Spring officer from 1987-93 and a detective the last three years in Campbell County. He stepped down to become a patrolman two months ago, and he said moving north on U.S. 27 is a dream job.
“I was born and raised in Cold Spring,” Mr. Hales said Wednesday. “Cold Spring was where I got my start in law enforcement.”
Mr. Hales takes over from a controversial predecessor.
Former Cold Spring Chief Mike Piccirillo was asked to resign amid charges that he used foul language and knocked over file cabinets when angry. Mr. Piccirillo refused and was fired last October, reinstated a month later and dismissed again in March.
Mr. Hales, who once worked with Mr. Piccirillo, said his first goal is to ask his officers what the department needs.
“They've been there the past six years,” he said. “They know more than I would right now.”
In Florence, former Chief Paul Buelterman resigned in March amid allegations of morale problems. He will work for the next 16 months as a liaison to the Boone County dispatch center and will then resign because he will be vested in the state retirement plan.
Eight Florence officers are in the running to replace him.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen said the initial inter views for all but one person, Patrolman Wayne Staggs, will be held Monday and Tuesday. That interview takes place May 26 because he is on vacation next week. The field will then be cut to two or three for second interviews.
“I'm hoping to have the new chief in place by July 1, the start of the fiscal year,” Ms. Whalen said.
“(The new chief) does have to be a strong leader, but a strong leader who is respected,” she said Wednesday. “It's not important that everybody like him all the time.”
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