Despite going through a lengthy and costly process to select a new Winslow police chief, the city finds itself with only one candidate for the position, a well-respected police chief from St. Johns.
During the April 25 Winslow City Council meeting, City Manager Stephen Pauken reported that three candidates were interviewed in mid-April for the position, two of whom decided to take positions in other towns and the third was not selected by the hiring committee.
Two new candidates were then identified to the council to take part in an interview process on May 2, with the process to include questioning by the city council and a public meet and greet opportunity.
The new candidates were noted as Chief Daniel Brown of the St. Johns Police Department and Public School Campus Police Chief Robert Swain from Tulsa, Okla., but a few days after the council meeting Swain notified Pauken that he would be staying at his current job, where he was offered an increase in pay.
Pauken stated in an email that they would continue with the interview process even though Brown is now the only candidate. Chief Brown has served as St. Johns police chief since 2014, and prior to that he was a sergeant with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for two years, commander of the Gila River Tribal Police Department for 15 months and a sergeant with the City of Maricopa Police Department. He also has worked as an instructor at three police academies and has served as acting chief of police at Gila River.
Brown is a graduate of Apache Junction High School and Northern Arizona University with both bachelor and master’s degrees. He is also a recent graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Until a decision is made, former Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez remains as temporary chief of the Winslow Police Department.
