Oakboro Commissioners Sign Contract with School SRO, Create Job Opening for Police Chief
Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 9:15 a.m.
- Oakboro, North Carolina
The Oakboro City Commission made two unanimous decisions regarding the School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Oakboro STEM School and the proposed job opening for a new police chief at a special meeting Tuesday night.
Before a packed audience at City Hall, City Administrator Georgia Osborne-Harvey presented commissioners with options for how the city could proceed in its search for an SRO.
She said the city could choose between four options: hiring an outside agency or security company, using a current full-time Oakboro Police Department employee, hiring Stanly County Schools or hiring the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office directly.
After a 20-minute closed session, Osborne-Harvey made a motion to take the third option, which is to contract with SCS, which ultimately contracts with the sheriff’s office. The motion passed unanimously.
The board then discussed the details of the official job advertisement for the position of police chief in another long closed session.
The board then unanimously approved the wording of the job posting, which will be posted on Oakboro’s website on Wednesday.
The new police chief’s qualifications include 10 years of professional law enforcement experience, including five years in leadership and administrative roles. The new chief must live within two miles of the city limits and will have six months to relocate after being hired.
Essential responsibilities include overseeing all of the department’s law enforcement activities, recruiting and supervising training, administrative work, and creating a “culture of accountability for the application of effective law enforcement practices that promote a sense of safety and respect among both community members and officers.”
The police chief’s salary ranges from $75,000 to $89,000 per year, plus benefits.
Harvey also outlined the timeline and process for hiring a police chief. She said the job opening must be posted for at least 45 days before the initial background check and interviews take place.
She said an initial interview committee of 10 to 12 people would conduct those interviews. The committee would consist of owners or employees of small and large businesses, Oakboro residents, police officers and a city commissioner. Harvey said she would serve as chair of the committee.
She added it would be appropriate to post a link on the city’s website for people who want to serve on the board. Depending on how many apply for certain positions, she said, she will “probably bring it up to the board (of commissioners)” to make those decisions.
A follow-up committee, including the board of directors, herself, an Oakboro PD officer and “optionally one or two other individuals,” would conduct second and possibly third interviews with potential candidates.
Harvey said she gathered information from the Criminal Justice Standards Division, the Association of Municipalities, other city administrators and police chief directories for the city’s search, as well as seeking advice from city attorneys.
About Charles Curcio
Charles Curcio was the sports editor of Stanly News & Press for over 16 years and has also written numerous news and feature stories. He was named the 2014 NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and the CNHI Sports Editor of the Year. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers and four awards from the North Carolina Press Association.
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