By Beth Kuhles
The Houston Chronicle
The Conroe City Council will appoint a nine-member committee to recommend police chief candidates. Police Chief Charlie Ray retired on May 31 after a 30-year career in law enforcement. The City Council opted to do its own search, rather than hire an outside firm, and will appoint a nine-member committee to review applicants.
That committee will include Mayor Webb Melder, Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Streater, a third council member, Fire Chief Ken Kreger, City Administrator Jerry McGuire, two police department staff, including a patrol officer and two citizens, including a representative from the Dugan or Madeley areas of the city.
“This is a high-profile job,” said Councilwoman Marsha Porter, who pushed for a second police department representative to be on the committee. “My understanding is that people can apply internally as well as an outside search. I would like to see a little more representation from the police.”
Interim Chief Philip Dupuis, a 25-year veteran of the department, said he plans to apply for the job.
“I’ve enjoyed my time here in the community and I’ve lived here longer than in my own hometown,” Dupuis said. “I think we have a very good, very professional police department. We are on the front edge of technology and best practices. I would like to be a part of that.”
The process to appoint a new police chief is expected to take two to three months.
The search committee will screen applicants and present two to three finalists to the Conroe City Council for consideration.
The committee will include two members of the police department, including a patrol officer or detective that has been with the city for at least 10 years and has served under the administration of Ray and former police chief John T. Lindon, said City Administrator Jerry McGuire.
The new police chief will lead a department of 108 officers overseeing a growing city of more than 50,000 residents.
Copyright 2009 The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company