Search for new police chief continues

Nov 30, 2022

609

Maricopa Police Department — Mark Goodman, a Pasadena, Calif., Police Department commander, is new police chief in Maricopa. [Bryan Mordt]

Maricopa’s search for a new chief of police has moved to the next stage as the city has begun vetting applicants, according to city spokesman Quinn Konold.

Applications closed Nov. 14.

The city received 15 applications and is reviewing them with its recruiting partner, Ralph Anderson and Associates.

“The (hiring) timetable will be based on when we identify the right candidate,” Konold said. “The recruiter first works to vet the candidates and shares their thoughts with the city. We review all of the information and when there is a candidate or candidates we would like to get to know better there will be an in-person interview process.”

The city is seeking a replacement for Police Chief James Hughes, who resigned unexpectedly in August after just 21 months on the job, telling InMaricopa the position was not a good fit. Hughes joined MPD in 2012 as a commander overseeing operations and then replaced Steve Stahl as chief in January 2021.

According to the posting on the Ralph Anderson and Associates website, the position pays $182,401, depending on qualifications. Compensation includes membership in the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. Moving expenses may be offered.

The job description states the city is seeking “a community-service minded, innovative, and dynamic law-enforcement professional to lead the Maricopa Police Department. The Police Chief position is an active contributor to the Senior Leadership Team.”

It states the department’s 2023 budget is $12.1 million, which includes a staff of 92, 80 of them sworn officers. The listing further describes the department as having a strong cadre of lieutenants, led by a captain, overseeing four functional areas: community policing, two patrol squads and criminal investigations.

“Senior leadership at MPD continues to maintain its outstanding level of service to the community during this process and we look forward to sharing an announcement once a selection is made,” Konold said.