Police chief finalists narrowed to 3

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Clovis’ interim police chief, a Houston-area law officer and instructor, and the former director of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy have been named finalists for the city’s police chief job.

Clovis City Manager Larry Fry made the announcement on Thursday, narrowing the list of candidates from 14.

Doug Ford has been the interim Clovis chief since Steve Sanders retired in June.

Aaron Tyksinski is a veteran law officer as well as criminal justice lecturer at the University of Houston and Wharton County Junior College.

Jack Jones was in charge of state-wide police officer training for more than two years before resigning in December.

“I don’t want to get into too much detail, but these are the three that we have the most interest in at this point, for various reasons — their experience, their qualifications, and those kinds of things,” Fry said.

Fry did not provide a timeline on when he hopes to hire a new chief, but said Tyksinski is not available to travel to Clovis for an interview until March 7.

“I would like to interview them all in the same day, ideally,” Fry said. “But that may not be possible.”

The city manager said he has done preliminary interviews with all three finalists; he interviewed Ford and Jones in person, and Tyksinski via telephone.

He plans to “get help from different folks,” for the final round of interviews, but has not yet confirmed that panel.

Fry has said he’s pleased with the job Ford has been doing as interim chief, and that’s one reason he’s been comfortable in taking time to select “the best person for the city of Clovis.”

He announced in December he had 14 applicants to consider for the chief’s job. The city also took applications last summer, attracting 17 candidates.

Fry said he didn’t feel like the first group of candidates was strong enough from which to select a chief.

Ford is the only candidate who applied in both rounds.