Fort Oglethorpe halts police chief applications: Four apply within two-week advertisement period
Friday April 11, 2008 8:15:35pm
Two of the four people who applied for the position of police chief in Fort Oglethorpe were from within the department, officials said.
Last time the job was open, there were 11 applications.
“I felt that I’d probably have somewhere around eight to 10,” said interim city manager and city attorney Ron Goulart, adding that he didn’t have an explanation for the decline in the number of applications.
Goulart said he would likely set up interviews for the week of April 14-18. The city council must then ratify Goulart’s selection. He said he anticipated a decision would be made at the April 28 council meeting although that could change.
The position was advertised from March 24 to April 7 after former chief Larry C. Black departed in mid-January to become commander of the Lookout Mountain Drug Tas Force. Det. David Eubanks was appointed as interim chief on Feb. 1.
Since the last advertisement for a police chief, the job requirements and desired qualifications have changed. This time, the city asked only that the applicant have a high school diploma or general education degree as opposed to being a college graduate and FBI National Academy graduate. The experience level, however, was upped from seven years to eight.
“The experience is just invaluable,” said Goulart, a former Chattanooga police officer. “By way of example, (when) you get out of law school and you’ve got a law degree, you’re a lawyer that’s never lost a case; but in all honesty, it takes three to five years just to figure out how to practice law. I feel like there’s a lot of competent officers that have experience that would qualify them.”
He said people skills were also important as is the ability to manage other officers.
Candidates should send resumes to include three references not later than May 5, 2006 to:
City Manager
P.O. Box 5509
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
The City of Fort Oglethorpe is an equal opportunity employer.
The last time the city advertised for a police chief was in April 2006 when former Chief Doug Howell was demoted.
City officials are also working to fill an opening for city manager. The number of applications for that job was down significantly since last time, too. Just 18 people applied compared to more than twice that many when it was open in 2004.
Fort Oglethorpe has several former chiefs and interim chiefs in its police department including Capt. David Wyrick, Det. Steve Blevins and training officer Doug Howell. Council member Johnnie “Red” Smith is also a former chief.
March 26, 2008
Position Available
City of Fort Oglethorpe
Chief of Police
Posting date:
March 24, 2008
Close Date: April 7, 2008
Education/Experience
High School Diploma or General Education Degree. Must be certified under the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Act. Must have eight years of previous Law Enforcement Experience, three of which must be in command level supervision.
Excellent written communications and public speaking skills desired. Proven ability to maintain discipline and respect of a staff of Law Enforcement Officers.
Ability to lead, train, evaluate and discipline as necessary.
Establish and maintain a cooperative working atmosphere with all City Officials, other City Department Heads, Community and Civic Leaders, as well as other City, County, State and Federal Law Enforcement agencies.
Resumes may be mailed to, faxed, or E-mailed to:
Ron Goulart, City Manager
500 City Hall Drive
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742
Fax: 706-861-5086
E-mail: rongoulart@aol.com
For several months before the last Fort Oglethorpe election in November, then-council member Richard Egeland had said that then-Mayor Judd Burkhart and several others had hoped to bring Howell back as police chief. Both Egeland and Burkhart were voted out last fall.
In a recent interview, Howell said he did not apply for the job this time, nor had he ever intended to do so.
April 26, 2006
Chief of Police
Fort Oglethorpe
Chief of Police – The City of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia is seeking an experienced law enforcement professional to lead a Georgia certified police department.
Mandatory Qualification – Must be certified under the Georgia Peace Officers Training Standards and Training Act.
Desired Qualifications – (1) Possess at least seven years law enforcement experience with a minimum of three years experience ina responsible command level position.
(2) Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in criminal justice or a closely related field.
(3) Graduate of the FBI National Academy.
(4) Proven ability to maintain discipline and respect of a staff of law enforcement officers. Ability to lead, train, evaluate, and discipline as necessary.
(5) Establish and maintain a cooperative working atmosphere with all City officials, other City Department Heads, Community and Civic leaders as well as other City, County, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.
Last time the job was open, there were 11 applications.
“I felt that I’d probably have somewhere around eight to 10,” said interim city manager and city attorney Ron Goulart, adding that he didn’t have an explanation for the decline in the number of applications.
Goulart said he would likely set up interviews for the week of April 14-18. The city council must then ratify Goulart’s selection. He said he anticipated a decision would be made at the April 28 council meeting although that could change.
The position was advertised from March 24 to April 7 after former chief Larry C. Black departed in mid-January to become commander of the Lookout Mountain Drug Tas Force. Det. David Eubanks was appointed as interim chief on Feb. 1.
Since the last advertisement for a police chief, the job requirements and desired qualifications have changed. This time, the city asked only that the applicant have a high school diploma or general education degree as opposed to being a college graduate and FBI National Academy graduate. The experience level, however, was upped from seven years to eight.
“The experience is just invaluable,” said Goulart, a former Chattanooga police officer. “By way of example, (when) you get out of law school and you’ve got a law degree, you’re a lawyer that’s never lost a case; but in all honesty, it takes three to five years just to figure out how to practice law. I feel like there’s a lot of competent officers that have experience that would qualify them.”
He said people skills were also important as is the ability to manage other officers.
Candidates should send resumes to include three references not later than May 5, 2006 to:
City Manager
P.O. Box 5509
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
The City of Fort Oglethorpe is an equal opportunity employer.
The last time the city advertised for a police chief was in April 2006 when former Chief Doug Howell was demoted.
City officials are also working to fill an opening for city manager. The number of applications for that job was down significantly since last time, too. Just 18 people applied compared to more than twice that many when it was open in 2004.
Fort Oglethorpe has several former chiefs and interim chiefs in its police department including Capt. David Wyrick, Det. Steve Blevins and training officer Doug Howell. Council member Johnnie “Red” Smith is also a former chief.
March 26, 2008
Position Available
City of Fort Oglethorpe
Chief of Police
Posting date:
March 24, 2008
Close Date: April 7, 2008
Education/Experience
High School Diploma or General Education Degree. Must be certified under the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Act. Must have eight years of previous Law Enforcement Experience, three of which must be in command level supervision.
Excellent written communications and public speaking skills desired. Proven ability to maintain discipline and respect of a staff of Law Enforcement Officers.
Ability to lead, train, evaluate and discipline as necessary.
Establish and maintain a cooperative working atmosphere with all City Officials, other City Department Heads, Community and Civic Leaders, as well as other City, County, State and Federal Law Enforcement agencies.
Resumes may be mailed to, faxed, or E-mailed to:
Ron Goulart, City Manager
500 City Hall Drive
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742
Fax: 706-861-5086
E-mail: rongoulart@aol.com
For several months before the last Fort Oglethorpe election in November, then-council member Richard Egeland had said that then-Mayor Judd Burkhart and several others had hoped to bring Howell back as police chief. Both Egeland and Burkhart were voted out last fall.
In a recent interview, Howell said he did not apply for the job this time, nor had he ever intended to do so.
April 26, 2006
Chief of Police
Fort Oglethorpe
Chief of Police – The City of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia is seeking an experienced law enforcement professional to lead a Georgia certified police department.
Mandatory Qualification – Must be certified under the Georgia Peace Officers Training Standards and Training Act.
Desired Qualifications – (1) Possess at least seven years law enforcement experience with a minimum of three years experience ina responsible command level position.
(2) Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in criminal justice or a closely related field.
(3) Graduate of the FBI National Academy.
(4) Proven ability to maintain discipline and respect of a staff of law enforcement officers. Ability to lead, train, evaluate, and discipline as necessary.
(5) Establish and maintain a cooperative working atmosphere with all City officials, other City Department Heads, Community and Civic leaders as well as other City, County, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.
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cj783Comments: 1 Joined: 04/14/2008 |
04/14/2008 10:25:00 AM
Are you kidding me!!!!! Why would anyone apply for Police Chief???? |
VocalwhennecessaryComments: 265 Joined: 04/10/2008 |
04/12/2008 07:47:52 PM
Ron!!!!!!!! No explanation for the decrease in the number of applications for Police Chief????? Have you forgotten what you guys did to Larry Black? You people have just whittled your choices down to almost nothing. Until Ronnie Cobb was elected mayor most of you had free reign to do whatever you wanted to do, whenever you wanted to do it! The City Council was nothing short of a joke. I would have rather tuned in to the council meetings on UCTV 3 than I had Days of Our Lives. I'll hand it to you. The past council put Ft. Oglethorpe on the map (as a place you wouldn't want to be employed). If you're not a politician, you're not going to make it in FO, and even then you won't make it until the next election. But the damage that can be cause between elections is unreal. When you lost Larry Black you lost the most professional Police Chief you could have hoped for. It shouldn't be too hard finding someone to meet your new expectations. |
hoosiermamaComments: 396 Joined: 11/14/2007 |
04/12/2008 09:28:27 AM
Haha! Goulart knows full well why applications are down for police chief! He makes himself look ridiculous by making the statement that he doesn't. Looks like most folks realize that the chief position is a "political" position and the longetivity of the position depends on whoever would win in the next election, and less likely based on job performance. Fort Oglethorpe is going to be hard-pressed to find ANY viable candidates soon with the shenanigans that go on there! |
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Joined: 07/24/2006
Now he says he can eliminate all property taxes in Fort O if MOST is allowed (assuming the next SPLOST doesn't pass). If the SPLOST doesn't pass, how does he propose to finish the sewer work?