In an effort to ensure sufficient police coverage until an interim or permanent police chief is hired, Holbrook City Manager Randy Sullivan reached out to Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark to see if there could be some assistance from the county. Clark informed Sullivan that he will be able to provide the city with two dedicated deputies for three months who would not leave the city limits to take county calls.
This arrangement came about after Sullivan received a letter earlier this month from Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) stating that they would not be able to provide an interim chief due to concerns that the low numbers of officers would keep the officer from doing the duties of a chief and be forced into working on the road.
Sullivan said the DPS program is designed to give officers who want to pursue becoming a captain, hands on experience through an interim chief position.
Sullivan said that the city currently has enough officers to cover the road but there is no backup. “When the two cadets finish training, then we will be up to nine full-time officers,” said Sullivan, who also noted that he has posted the police chief position on the Arizona Post website and the city website. At this time, the city has only received three applications, but Sullivan is hoping for more before beginning the hiring process. HPD Police Chief Mark Jackson is retiring this Saturday, May 12, and his second in command, Lieutenant Jack Arend is retiring on May 14.
With no interim chief of police Sullivan said that as the city manager he would ensure that the police department has the back-up necessary from the other agencies. “I see this as a short term issue,” said Sullivan. “A lot of information from the HPD comes to me through dispatch and I will make sure that our officers have what they need to do their jobs until we can fill the position.”
With regard to the animal control officer position, which will be vacated later this year with the retirement of Merrill Young, Sullivan stated that there would be no job posting at this time. Director of Administration Pat Nichols stated that would not happen until Young turns in his resignation.
Sullivan said that he realizes Young can leave in October of this year, but that the city doesn’t have the funds to bring someone into cross-train for more than a couple of weeks.
“It is not a state statute that the animal control officer be certified in euthanasia (the method of putting animals to death who are critically injured or dangerous),” said Nichols. “When Merrill brings us his resignation, I will post the job 30 days from his leave date.
“The volunteers (at the animal control facility) have reduced the need for euthanasia so greatly that we can pay Dr. Abbey Reidhead to euthanize the animals until the animal control officer is certified,” said Sullivan. Reidhead is the veterinary that operates her clinic inside the animal control facility.
Sullivan also noted that he has hired Jason Foutz as the new Code, Zoning and Grants Administrator in an effort to deal with code enforcement in the city at a salary of $52,900 per year. Sullivan went on to say that Community Development Director Kathleen Smith will continue to work on the economic development side, while Foutz will be enforcing city code and working with the owners of vacant buildings to discuss options for revitalization. Sullivan noted that the city would be willing to work with owners on the cleanup of lots and properties in an effort towards beautification.
