City announces new police commander

Richard “Rick” Clore, a retired commander with the Mesa Police Department, has been hired as a police commander by the city of Maricopa.

Clore said he applied for the job after hearing about it from Maricopa Police Chief Steven Stahl, who recently retired from Mesa, and reading the advertisement posted by City Manager Brenda Fischer.

“I am grateful to have this opportunity,” Clore said. “I think this department is poised for growth and the entire community is poised for growth. This is an exciting challenge.”

Clore lives in Mesa, where he grew up, but said he and his wife, Cindy, have been looking for another place to live outside of Mesa for about a year and Maricopa may fit the bill.

“I don’t want to get too far away from Mesa because I have two grandchildren there,” he said.

Stahl said Clore brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the position.

“His excitement for this profession was evident to the individuals who participated in the selection process,” he said. “I am extremely pleased to have him as a member of the Maricopa Police Department and confident he will help develop future leaders in this organization.”

In November, an action to replace the vacant assistant police chief and a vacant lieutenant position was approved by the Maricopa City Council. The vacancies stemmed from Assistant Police Chief Kirk Fitch announcing he would retire in December and the firing of Lt. Willie Payne in October.