The search for the new police chief in Platte City could conclude by the end of this month.

On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Platte City Board of Aldermen met in closed session on the status of the search that started in November after Carl Mitchell announced his plans to retire.

Mitchell had been chief for the past eight years, but was reassigned in September. He announced his retirement on Nov. 14.

Platte County Sheriff’s Department worked with the city and allowed Deputy Lynda Hacker-Bristow to serve as the interim chief on a month-to-month basis.

City administrator DJ Gehrt noted the contract for Hacker-Bristow will run through next month. That concludes with the proposed hiring schedule presented during the public safety committee meeting last month.

The search drew more than 130 applicants from across the country — nearly double the 70 that were received by Nov. 28. The salary range for the new policy chief is $64,1998-$89,944.

Gehrt noted after initial reviews 32 met the published/approved position (10 years in law enforcement and five in a supervisory role, associate degree in criminal justice and eligible for a Missouri Class A post certification). Of that group, the staff and personnel committee reviewed the group of 32 and identified 15 applicants for staff interview/background evaluation.

A group of seven candidates were presented to the board and they have the option to approve or deny the recommendation in closed session.

The outcome of the board’s decision wasn’t known as of press time. Look for a follow-up story in the next edition of The Citizen.

Gehrt noted the group of seven that his staff recommended included finalist from Maryland, Louisiana, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri — just some of the 15 different states that had officers apply.

Another change on the horizon with the police chief will be the likely elimination of the police lieutenant rank and a lieutenant/investigator spot and the creation of a stand alone investigator position that will report to the new chief.

That item was recommended for the board to approve during the Jan. 15 meeting as well.

he reduction in force compensation is $21,000 based on one week’s salary for each year employment and one month’s employee only Cobra health insurance premium for each year of employment.

December BOA meeting

The board approved the oral report from city attorney Jen Snider on the parks committee financial and organizational actions. The board directed the city attorney and staff to draft and implement procedures to improve internal controls of parks department programs, materials and contracts, according to a city-issued email to the media. That was the outcome a nearly two hour closed session meeting.