City seeks recruitment firm to hire police chief
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
The city has issued a tender seeking a recruitment firm to help hire a police chief.
Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who sits on the Brandon Police Board, told the Sun last month that after the first round of applications for a new police chief failed to turn up a successful candidate, the next round would involve headhunters.
The tender states that the city is looking for a recruitment firm to provide hiring services for a police chief, but also for “executive and hard to fill municipal positions.”
The document says the city anticipates it will award the contract within two weeks of the proposal’s closing date and that the term of the contract will be until the end of 2025 with the possibility of a two-year extension.
The police chief position was posted last fall and closed on Oct. 10. Brandon Police Board chair Deb Arpin told the Sun in late February that the board was restarting its process for hiring a new chief.
Arpin wouldn’t give details about how many applications were received or a specific reason why the board decided to make the decision to make another call for applicants. However, a freedom of information request by the Sun revealed that there were 16 applicants for the chief position.
As part of the request, the Sun asked for the number of applicants from within BPS, but the city declined to provide that information.
“Given the relatively small size of the BPS Executive, who are the individuals likely to apply for the Chief position, disclosing the number of internal applicants is likely to enable the public and other BPS members to discern who applied for the position and that the applicant(s) were unsuccessful,” the statement read.
According to documents detailing the board’s expenses, $562.48 was spent last year for both the job posting and three days in November during which interviews were held. Another $3,935.10 was spent in honorariums for board members for police chief interviews and interview committee meetings.
The deadline for proposals is April 8.
Former BPS chief Wayne Balcaen announced his retirement last June and went on to successfully run for the Progressive Conservatives in Brandon West in last October’s provincial election. Deputy Chief Randy Lewis has served as acting chief since June 24, 2023.
» gmortfield@brandonsun.com
» X: @geena_mortfield