Cleveland police chief candidates
Michael Bledsoe Vonore, Tenn.Administrative captain of Monroe County Sheriff’s OfficeServed as police chief for Vonore, Tenn. from 2003 to 2007Jessie BrooksKingston, Tenn.Tennessee Highway Patrol captainHas served with THP since 1981, attaining rank of captain in 2013Tim ChristolHixson, Tenn.Red Bank police chiefServed with Knox County Sheriff’s Office from 1979 to 2009Mark GibsonCleveland, TennInterim chief for Cleveland Police DepartmentHas served with department since 1997Craig HamiltonCleveland, Tenn.University of Tennessee of Chattanooga police chiefServed with Bradley County Sheriff’s Office from 1990 to 2005Anthony HeavnerJackson, Tenn.Captain with Madison County Sheriff’s OfficeHas served with department since 1989Stephanie HillNewport, Tenn.Chattanooga State Community College police chiefHas served 19 years in law enforcement and private securityCraig MoatesEagleville, Tenn.Current Chief of Police, McKenzie Police DepartmentServed as police chief for Kotzebue Police Department, Alaska from 2010 to 2012Thomas ParkerFranklin, Tenn.Captain with Williamson County Sheriff’s OfficeHas served the department since 1978Nathan VaughnChattanoogaCaptain with Chattanooga Police DepartmentHas served the department since 1990
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Two Cleveland police officers are target of sex investigation
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A field of 36 applicants has been narrowed down to 10 candidates in Cleveland's search for its next police chief, City Manager Janice Casteel said Friday.
The announcement came even as the department scrambled to handle yet more allegations of sexual misconduct in the department's ranks. Two officers were placed on administrative leave Friday over charges they were having extramarital affairs, and one of the women involved has claimed she was sexually assaulted last weekend in Gatlinburg.
The short list for the department's top job included four Chattanooga-area names: Red Bank Police Chief Timothy Christol; University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Police Chief Craig S. Hamilton; Chattanooga State Community College Police Chief Stephanie D. Hill; and Chattanooga Police Department Capt. Nathan A. Vaughn. Mark Gibson, who has served as the Cleveland Police Department's interim chief since March, also made the list.
The other five candidates come from across the state: Monroe County Sheriff's Office Capt. Michael D. Bledsoe; Tennessee Highway Patrol Capt. Jessie Brooks; Madison County Sheriff's Office Capt. Anthony W. Heavner; McKenzie Police Department Chief Craig B. Moates; and Williamson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Thomas R. Parker.
The candidates were selected by an interview panel consisting of Casteel, law enforcement consultant Larry Wallace, Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn and Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce board Chairman Robert Bradney. The panel also is assisted by Jeff Davis, the city's human resources director, Casteel said.
"We were extremely pleased that so many qualified candidates applied for the position," Casteel said. "The committee members will now focus their review on these 10 applicants."
Wallace will conduct background checks and tests for each candidate, she said.
The City Council hired Wallace in March to suggest reforms after a highly publicized sex scandal involving then-Chief Dennis Maddux, who was demoted and then resigned after an internal affairs investigation.
The selection of the next police chief is a "crucial and ultimately pivotal appointment for the Cleveland Police Department and the Citizens of Cleveland," Wallace said in a recent report to the council. He has said the new chief should be in place by Oct. 1.
On Monday, Wallace is scheduled to discuss proposed changes to the police department's policies, procedures and organization.
That's also the deadline for council members to submit their individual evaluations of Casteel. The council voted in May to evaluate Casteel in the wake of the Maddux scandal, then the most recent in a string of departmental sex scandals dating back at least to 2009.
In his most recent report, Wallace said officers seeking promotion to any rank must complete leadership training. The department expects to implement a leadership training course by mid-month.
The department also has eliminated its assistant police chief position and plans are in the works to establish a professional standards captain, who will oversee the detective division and internal affairs.
A committee has been formed to make recommendations about synchronizing the city policy manual and the Cleveland Police Department's Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement manual.
The committee, which is chaired by Casteel and includes Wallace, Councilman Dale Hughes and others, convenes Tuesday. Plans call for the City Council to consider proposed policy changes at its Sept. 14 meeting.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.