Nearly 40 candidates for open positions

Deputy Editor

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A national search has produced 17 police chief candidates and 20 fire chief hopefuls as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Clovis’ city human resources director.

Clovis Police Chief Steve Sanders retired on June 12, and Clovis Fire Chief Ron Edwards retired on March 6.

Human Resources Director Nancye Clements said vacancies were posted on the New Mexico Municipal League Reporter and the Texas Municipal League’s website.

Clements said TML has different sources across the nation it uses to spread the word of job vacancies, and the city has received applications for both positions from “quite a few areas.”

“We’ve advertised these broadly in an attempt to get the largest pool we can to choose from,” Clovis City Manager Larry Fry said. “Whether it ends up being someone from the community or someone coming in from outside is yet to be determined, but hopefully we’ll find the right person.”

No salary was listed under the job descriptions for either chief, however the city is looking for applicants with experience and education.

For the fire chief, requirements include a bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration or a related field that is supplemented with a degree from the executive fire officer program at the National Fire Academy, a minimum of eight years experience in fire service management and three years of administrative responsibility.

For the police chief, requirements include a bachelor’s degree in police science, criminal justice or police administration from an accredited university, a minimum of 10 years in law enforcement experience with a minimum of three to five years in a command position.

Police applicants must also have a New Mexico law enforcement certification or gain certification in a year after chosen. The city is also looking for someone with specialized training from the FBA National Academy, SPI or Northwestern University. Whoever is selected must also show an ability to work with community leaders and local officials.

Knowing local, state and federal laws are also required to become the next police chief, as well as knowledge of animal control operations and budgeting.

Fry said he would be reviewing applications “here in the next little bit” after all applications make their way to the city manager’s desk. Tuesday was the deadline, but the city will accept applications that are postmarked before July 1.

In addition to the two chiefs, the city will also be hiring a new airport director.

“It’s hard to say when we’d be announcing that that, exactly,” Fry said. “We have three different pools of applicants to look at. … The selection won’t be made this week or anything like that; it’ll be longer than that. I don’t know exactly how long it will take at this point.”

Fry said the city will have to figure out how it wants to “go about the process,” including how many applicants are interviewed.

“It’s ultimately my decision,” Fry said. “It’s not a committee decision or a group decision, but we will likely have people assisting in the process of selection.”

Regardless of how long it may be until the city hires a new police chief or a new fire chief, Fry said, “These are very important decisions within the city.”

“We need to get them filled as quickly as we can with the most qualified individuals that we can find for these positions whether that’s internal or external,” Fry said.

Clements said, “We’re moving along, and hopefully we’ll get somebody on board in the next 60 to 90 days.”