Moscow police chief job has 12 candidates

Twelve candidates have applied to be Moscow’s next police chief.

That number is “a few less” than expected, said Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner, who’s leading the search to replace retiring Chief David Duke. But he said the search committee is “pleased” with the quality of the candidates.

“We’ve got a good pool that we feel good about interviewing,” Riedner said.

The application period closed Monday.

Whoever is selected will replace Duke, 60, who announced his plans in January to conclude his 43-year law enforcement career in June. Duke’s career has included 16 years with the Moscow Police Department and five years as its chief.

The 12 candidates include applicants from around the region and nation, Riedner said. He declined to identify the candidates, as the hiring process is ongoing.

The next steps in the hiring process include assessing each candidate to see if they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and then conducting phone interviews.

The top candidates will then travel to Moscow for a meet and greet with the general public and one-on-one interviews. The meet and greet is tentatively set for March 30.

“It’ll be a chance for the community to interact with the candidates,” he said.

One-on-one interviews will take place with an interview team. The members of that team have yet to be determined, Riedner said, but will likely include community members and Moscow city councilors.

The top candidates will then have interviews with Riedner and Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert.

Riedner said it’s not yet known when the final selection will be made.

“It’s really tough to gauge it,” he said, adding that other parts of the process, including reference checks, will need to be completed before a finalist is selected.

After Lambert appoints the finalist, the city council must confirm it, Riedner said.