Wanted: Police chief

STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

September 6, 2001

Long Beach seeking full-time successor to part-timer Dunston

By CHRISTINE HARVEY
THE SUN HERALD

 

If you apply

To apply to be chief of police, candidates must have two years' service at one of the two next lower active ranks and be pursuing or hold a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field. A master's degree in this area is preferred.

Or, be a "good ole boy" and want the job.

Experience can be learned on the job, you know, we will overlook your lack of experience.

The Civil Service Commission will administer a test, and nominees for the job will be based on the results and a review of their personnel files, with an emphasis on education, experience, efficiency reports and ratings, and physical and psychological fitness.

I wonder if this Civil Service test will become public knowledge, I think not.

After I retired from the Naval Seabees in 1988 with over 20 years active service, and having purchased my home in Long Beach in 1976.

I took the Civil Service exam for an opening in the Fire Department.

I scored 96% on the test, I was told that was the highest score ever made at that time.

But since I was not one of the "good ole boys" I was not even called about the job, but one of the "local or picked boy's" were given the job.

I did however run for Mayor of Long Beach, I did not get elected, but the Mayor also did not get re-elected. ( I made my point)

• After nominees have been certified by the commission, they will be interviewed by the mayor and Board of Aldermen.

  Interview:  How long have you lived in Long Beach?

                      Are you related to any of the influential families which could help he get re-elected?

                      OH, by the way, do you have any experience in law-enforcement? 

                      

• The commission will make efforts to find nominees within the Police Department. However, if three nominees aren't found, applications will be solicited from outside agencies.

  Please let there be three nominees in the department, please.

  What will we do if we have to go outside the department, this can't be happening.

• Applicants from outside the Police Department must meet the same criteria as those from within and have at least two years' experience as chief or assistant chief of a city with a population of 20,000 or more. Equivalent experience in a county or federal law enforcement agency may satisfy this requirement.

  Equivalent experience in a county or federal law enforcement agency may satisfy this requirement.

  This is our way out, quick, call everyone you know that may come close to qualifying.

  - Civil Service Commission

  This is a Commission which need to be done away with, know commission should have the power to pick and choose people for job.

  Rules and Regulations

  LONG BEACH - Potential police chiefs are already lining up to take over when Mark Dunston's 90-day term as interim chief ends Oct. 1.

  I would like too know the backgrounds of all the candidates, and why they want the position as police chief.

  Alderman Gary Ponthieux said Wednesday that three potential candidates have contacted him about the job. One is Capt. Pat Pope, the Gulfport Police Department's chief of detectives and a Long Beach resident.

  Being a Long Beach resident is what they will be looking for.

  "It's going to be a good position for somebody who wants to get in there and be a full-time police chief for the long run," he said.

  Just having five (5) brand new, never been used police vehicles will have candidates coming from everywhere to apply for the position. 

  Dunston has announced that he will not seek the job because he and the city could not agree on financial terms. Dunston earns $55,900 a year as interim chief, considerably more than the $42,600 that his predecessor, Tom Bishop, made.

  So, what will be the salary of the new police chief?

  I believe the Taxpayers are still paying the former police chief a salary and he doesn't have a job yet.

  I do not believe anyone should be paid more than the Mayor, he does hold the highest office in the city.

  Mayor Robert Bass said he had wanted to make Dunston the permanent chief. Bass said he hopes Dunston can stay on until one is chosen.

  Dunston is the smartest person in Long Beach, he is going for the money not the position.

  The city last sought police chief candidates in March 1998, when Dunston, who had been chief in Long Beach for 16 months, left the job the first time. Bishop was appointed to the position after a four-month search. He resigned in June to take a job as a warrants and code enforcement officer in the city.

  Subj:	Bishop's resignation letter
  Date:	9/6/01 10:17:53 AM Central Daylight Time
  From:	Mccaleb5thdist
  To:	cityclerk@cityoflongbeachms.com, mayor@cityoflongbeachms.com
  CC:	RICHBENNET, jim@frslaw.com, admin@cityoflongbeachms.com, permits@cityoflongbeachms.com, waterdept@cityoflongbeachms.com

  
  
  City Clerk of Long Beach:
  
  Becky: Is there a resignation letter of file by former police chief bishop?
  
  If so I will be requesting a copy of his resignation.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Steven A. McCaleb
  
  The city last sought police chief candidates in March 1998, when Dunston, who had been chief in Long Beach for 16 months, left the job the first time. Bishop was appointed to the position after a four-month search. He resigned in June to take a job as a warrants and code enforcement officer in the city.

   

  The Board of Aldermen has directed the city's Civil Service Commission to advertise for the position.

  So who is going to hire the next police chief, the Mayor, Board of Aldermen, or the Civil Service Commission?

  The city has been criticized because Dunston lives in Hattiesburg and works only part time while earning a full-time salary. Dunston has continued his work with Calibre Press since taking the interim position, training police officers around the world nearly two weeks out of every month.

  Like I said, Dunston is the smartest person in Long Beach.

  Dunston said his schedule would not have changed had he been appointed the permanent chief.

  That is a pretty heavy schedule to follow and still be a full time police chief of Long Beach.

  Go where the money is - I am sure you will know the next police chief anyway.

  Plus, he said he would be teaching a class on Friday afternoons through the fall at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

  I am sure Dunston has his life in order, but is was nice of him to become the interim police chief.

  I especially liked having police officers placed in each ward in order to get personal with the citizens in that community.

  Long Beach, it seems to me, has the most unfriendliness police officers.

  I go out of my way to wave at every policeman I see on the road, but I have never seen one wave back.

  Christine Harvey can be reached at 896-2393 or at clharvey@sunherald.com

  STEVEN A. McCALEB
  COMMENTARY
  MY OPINION