by Wesley Harris
Ruston Police Deputy Chief Chad Hamlin has been selected by Mayor Ronny Walker to serve as interim chief until a permanent appointment of one of the 10 aspiring candidates is approved by the city council. Chief Steve Rogers is retiring after 20 years with RPD and 17 as chief.
Hamlin, 46, is a Grambling native who has served with RPD since 2007. He spent his first four years as a patrol officer before being promoted to sergeant and later to lieutenant. He also served as a crime investigator for several years. In his current position, Hamlin oversees training and public information, and more recently, took over RPD’s patrol division after an another deputy chief retired.
Walker said Tuesday morning that retirement for Rogers will be official Friday. Hamlin will be sworn in at noon that day.
The temporary appointment was necessary because of the delay in receiving scores from the police chief exam given by the Office of State Examiner in January, Walker said.
“Due to the fact we did not get our test scores back in a timely manner from the state, we’ve had to push our interviews back,” Walker said.
Despite the delay, Walker said he believes he will be able to recommend a candidate at the next city council meeting.
Eleven candidates took the exam with 10 receiving passing scores. Walker said he has already scheduled interviews with the 10 candidates which include eight current RPD members and two external candidates, both of whom served with RPD in the past.
Hamlin is one of the 10 eligible candidates vying for the permanent job as chief.
Walker and a team of city staff members who have helped in management level interviews in the past will meet with each candidate in the next few days. The mayor said there may be a second round of interviews, but he will not make a decision on that until later in the process.
That committee is comprised of Beth Bennett, Assistant to the Mayor; Matt Cotton, Sports Complex Director; Julie Keen, Finance Director; Kevin McGivney, Public Works Operations Manager; and Angie Robinson, HR Director.
Walker explained the plan is to recommend a candidate at the March 3 city council meeting. The position requires approval by a majority of council members.
Hamlin thanked the mayor for the opportunity to serve as the interim.
“I appreciate the opportunity, no matter how long it is,” Hamlin said. “As Chief [Rogers] said, there are good people in the department who work hard every day.”
Rogers told the media Tuesday morning, “It’s been a good ride.”
Rogers praised the good people he has worked with as chief, saying, “[The staff] has worked well together and we need to continue that [under the new chief].”
A reception will be held for Rogers from 3-5 p.m. Thursday at the Civic Center Peach Room.
Malcolm Butler contributed to this article.
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