Port police chief opening attracts ‘some good choices’

The Port Washington Police and Fire Commission is expected to review applications for the city’s next police chief when it meets Monday, Sept. 14.

Commission Chairman Jim Biever said Tuesday that he didn’t know if the city received any additional applications since the commission extended the application period last month after an initial review.

“Our goal is to find the best possible police chief we can,” he said of the decision. “We just don’t want to miss anything.”

Officials said the city initially received 11 applications for the position, which was vacated by Kevin Hingiss, who led the department since 2012 and retired on June 15.

Since Hingiss retired, the department has been led by Captain Craig Czarnecki, who was named interim chief by the commission in June. 

Five of the applicants, including two who did not qualify for the job, are from outside Wisconsin, Robin Pena, the city’s human resources director, said in August.

Biever said Tuesday he is not aware of any applicants from within the department and would not comment on whether any were from Ozaukee County communities, adding he will get an update on applications from Pena this week.

“We’ve got some good choices in there,” Biever said last month, noting that candidates came from communities large and small. “But we want to make sure we’ve advertised in all avenues and reached everyone we can.

“We probably have eight or nine that are a possibility.”

The commission never held public discussion on how to recruit a new chief, but Biever said it has been led in the job search by Pena.

“We’re leaving it up to Robin to lead us in the right direction,” he said.

The job description calls for candidates to have at least five years experience in a supervisory role and to have a certification as a law enforcement officer by the state.

The candidate should also have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, law enforcement or related field or an equivalent combination of education and “significant command-level experience” and “extensive, progressively responsible law enforcement experience.”

Biever said the commission does not have a specific timeline in place for hiring a chief, although he said the members hope to make an appointment by December so the new chief can start by Jan. 1.

But it’s important to take enough time to get the right person in the job, Biever said.

“It’s basically a lifetime appointment, so you want to get it right,” he said.