A decision for the Elizabethton Police Chief will soon be announced, according to city officials.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, citizen Janie McKinney spoke during the citizens’ comment portion and asked about the decision for police chief and asked about the time frame. McKinney added that the position is “not just another job” and said the police chief should have character, integrity and honesty while showing support for current interim police chief Jason Shaw.
City Manager Jerome Kitchens told attendees that he had just received the background checks for candidates on Thursday and that a decision would be made either Monday or Tuesday of next week.
There are currently four candidates in the running for the position.
Shaw is the current interim chief with the EPD and has been with the department since 1999. Shaw was named interim following the resignation of previous chief Greg Workman — who left the position in September to become the city’s new purchasing director.
The other candidate with a name notable in the area is Chris Mathes. The former Carter County Sheriff — term ending in August 2014 — is working as a public safety officer on the East Tennessee State University Campus. Kenneth Davis is the Assistant Director of Preparedness with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). The former Jefferson City Chief of Police has over 30 years of public safety experience at the state, local and federal levels and has a doctorate in public safety.
Robert Fisher works with the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Basic Law Enforcement Director and previously worked with the University of North Carolina – Asheville Police Department.