The search for a new Ringgold police chief is down to three finalists.
City Manager Dan Wright said he will present his final candidate at the September City Council meeting. The finalists are Catoosa County Sheriff’s Lt. Daniel Bilbrey, Fort Oglethorpe Police Officer Steve Blevins and Ringgold interim Chief Wilburn Dycus.
Wright said 35 candidates applied to succeed former Chief Charles Land, who retired after 38 years.
Each candidate will go through one more interview with a committee before a choice is made, Wright said.
Blevins has 21 years at the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department and is a watch commander over the day division.
Bilbrey is the supervisor of the sheriff’s criminal division and has been with the department since 1996.
Dycus has worked at the Ringgold Police Department since 2001 and was appointed interim chief when Land retired in June.
All three officers have more than 23 years of experience in law enforcement, reports show. Each candidate was selected based on his qualifications, credentials, job history and references, Wright said.
“Their familiarity with the area and the people” also played a large role in his decision, he said.
Land joined the Ringgold department in 1972 and was appointed chief at the end of 1975. His father, Dewey Land, had worked as an officer before him and retired the year he began.
“He was the one who talked me into taking the job,” Land said.
As a Ringgold native, Land said he never considered leaving to work in another city.
“I’ve just worked with some good people,” he said.