THREE FINALISTS NAMED FOR BRENHAM POLICE CHIEF POST
The search for a new Brenham Chief of Police has been narrowed down to three finalists.
Following interviews last week three candidates remain in the search for a successor to former chief Rex Phelps, who now serves as Assistant City Manager.
The three finalists are:
Dan Dennis, the current Chief of Police in Forest Hill, near Ft. Worth. Dennis has with the Forest Hill Department for 21 years and the chief since 2012.
Craig Goodman is the Lieutenant Commander for Proactive Investigations in the Pasadena Police Department. Goodman has been with the department since 1989; the last nine years as a lieutenant.
And, Jeff Matthews, Deputy Chief of Police in Arlington. Matthews has been with the Arlington P.D. for 30 years. He was a Lieutenant from 2001 to 2012, and the Deputy Chief for the past three years.
The three were interviewed last week by a committee consisting of: Phelps, Brenham Fire Chief Ricky Boeker, interim police Chief Dant Lange, City human resource director Susan Nienstedt, and Bryan police Chief Eric Buske.
Brenham City Manager Terry Roberts says the three will now undergo more intensive background checks over the next couple weeks.
Roberts says he hopes to have a final choice for the post by mid September.
Top positions deserve indepth considerations of experience. This is somthing that apparently has been lacking for many years in management and the hiring of top positions in our town’s past many years. There is too much fat at the main office and the taxpayers are paying for this political gluttony. It is time to trim the political fat and to stop trying to run our town like some big city like all of these candidates are from. Hopefully, someone is hired that understands our small town and what is being lost everyday by the fat government. We don’t need a big city mentality; that is not why I moved here. Stop fat government, stop political gluttony, stop the high taxes.
Dear 3reds,
I thought your comment deserved a reply. I appreciate your comment because I too am loyal to internal candidates and whenever possible believe in promoting from within. Over the past several years as the Brenham Police Chief I had the honor and pleasure of promoting many officers in all ranks from corporals, to sergeants and to captains. I stayed with inside candidates 100% of the time. As the ranks take on higher levels of responsibilities the qualification requirements inherently increases which is completely proper and appropriate.
Brenham Police Department is blessed to have long term employees. In recent years we had numerous long-term command staff that retired or had been re-assigned. This gave us the ability to promote new command officers. Our newest captains are in the middle of gaining that long-term experience at the command level.
It should be noted, we have so much confidence in our captains because of their individual tenure, skills and abilities that we waived the command time experience qualification for our potential internal candidates (captains) because they are just that good in my opinion.
It was their decision not to apply. They know this business and only they can make the call whether or not they want to apply. They have to do what is best for them and their families. I respect their decision and frankly I am very proud of them. Every decision they make is done with the agency and community’s best interest in mind. They are true servant leaders who put the team first.
As their recent police chief I sincerely love and respect all the staff. Although we love our officers at all ranks the corporals and sergeants are simply not yet qualified for the police chief position and they would be the first to tell you that because they know and understand this business. They are all on a path of development to take on more responsibility, just as I traveled the same path. All of them are great people who are growing professionally on a daily basis and eventually may want to at some point apply for a chief position.
It should also be noted that not every officer even wants to be the chief. In fact, most would probably tell you their individual goal is not to be a chief of police. One of the worst things you can do in an organization is to promote people before they are ready or before they want the position. We want to ensure everyone is valued and given the best situation in an effort to keep them as long-term team members.
I can assure you the relationships are in check at the Brenham Police Department. Again, I appreciate the comment and felt it deserved a respectful reply. If you have a concern that means others may have the same concern. The Brenham Police Department’s loyalties are secure.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Rex Phelps
3reds may have a point worth consideration. The out of area candidates appear to be more than qualified as far as experience goes. However, they may also be less likely to be agreeable to long held understandings and local politics than the homegrown candidates. Straight forward thinking gentlemen candidates would be less likely to be long term employees.
I know for a fact there were no local officers that put in an application. Hard to hire from within if nobody wants to try for the position.
So the City is saying there are no qualified candidates within the police department? I understand the need to look outside sometimes but by doing so they are telling the employees within the PD that there’s really no reason to try to better yourself in hopes of being the chief someday because it won’t happen here. They kinda stifle the employee’s motivation by constantly choosing outside candidates. And with outside candidates, you also get someone who is not as dedicated to the City as those who have put their time in and shown their loyalty.
The city isn’t saying that there aren’t any qualified candidates within the police department. They founds candidates that fit the job. PD employees had the same opportunity to apply for the job. Sounds like you’re upset you or someone you know didn’t get the job.
P.S. Phelps came from outside of Brenham.