Politics & Government

Search On for Permanent Police Chief

The elimination of two captain positions has been a sticking point for many, who said the city acted unfairly

After months of saying that finding a permanent police chief was not a top priority, City Manager John Brown on Thursday confirmed that a search would be conducted early next year.

“We will do a search before we put someone in that position, but only after I have a Public Works Utilities director, which I expect that to be done by end of calendar year,” Brown said.

The decision means that former Captain Dave Sears who was demoted this July when the at the Petaluma Police Department, will likely throw his hat into the ring to be the next police chief. So will Interim Police Chief Danny Fish, a 22-year veteran of the Petaluma Police Department.

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The two men have been described as having very different leadership styles, with Sears being described as an “analytical and a good listener" by department insiders and Fish as “methodical and precise,” someone who has come up through the organization working investigations, SWAT, narcotics and street crimes.

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Despite having two strong local contenders and a tradition of hiring from within, the city will also consider other candidates, including from other departments who will be reviewed by a panel of police chiefs.

But all that won’t happen until a new director of Public Works and Utilities is hired, a position that has been vacant since former . Brown said he made an offer for the position several months earlier, but the person changed their mind at the last minute. The city has now hired a recruitment firm to assist with the search.

The elimination of the captain ranks in the police department and Sears’ subsequent demotion—and $35,000 pay cut—have been a flashpoint in the community for the past two months. Residents have regularly spoken out against the decision at council meetings, calling the move “unfair” and council members Chris Albertson, Tiffany Renee and Mike Harris, who voted against the captain cuts, have tried to bring the topic back for discussion.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mentioned that former Petaluma Police Department Captain Dave Long competed for the chief position with Captain Pat Parks. Captain Long was never a contender for the chief position and moved to Half Moon Bay, not Idaho as previously reported. Patch regrets the error.


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