Police chief search enters application phase

EAST HAMPTON — Now that Police Chief Sean D. Cox has left his position, Town Manager Michael Maniscalco hopes to have a new chief in place by early April. However, Maniscalco said Tuesday, the most important thing is not simply to get a new person in place but to get the best person in the position.

Cox, who has been chief for the past five years, left Friday. After the first of the New Year, Cox said will begin a job in the private sector of the defense industry. He leaves with almost uniform expressions of admiration and even affection by town officials for his tenure as chief.

On Thursday, Maniscalco announced former Groton City Chief Thomas Davoren will serve as chief in an interim capacity. Davoren will begin as director of police services on Monday, Maniscalco said. He will have to be recertified to meet Police Officers Standards and Training before he will become interim chief.

Cox’s advocacy was deemed to have been essential in winning residents’ support for the proposed $18.9 million town hall/police headquarters. The proposal was narrowly approved by voters in a November referendum.

But now, Maniscalco’s attention has shifted to the recruitment and selection process.

The qualification for the chief’s position has been posted on the websites of both the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, as well as on the websites of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the International County Manager’s Association.

Maniscalco said he has already received expressions of interest in the position from a number of law enforcement professionals.

The job description says “The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree in relevant field is preferred.” In addition, the qualifications also say “a completion of advanced management training, such as the FBI National Academy or equivalent executive level training, is preferred.

Also desired is “Connecticut (Police Officers Standards and Training) certification or the ability to obtain it within a reasonable amount of time, and 15 years of progressively responsible police experience with at least five years of supervisory experience holding a command staff rank or higher.”

However, “Experience or education may be submitted to meet requirements,” the description says.

The deadline for submitting applications is Jan. 19. Qualified candidates will be identified during a four-day period from Jan. 22 to 26, and called between Jan. 29 to 31 to set up an interview, according to Manscialco’s timeline.

The process then picks up speed from there, with initial interviews scheduled from Feb. 5 to 9 and a second round of interviews Feb. 12 to 14.

Maniscalco hopes to make “a conditional offer of employment” to his choice sometime during the Feb. 15 to 19 time frame, he said.

Assuming the candidates agrees, two weeks (Feb. 20 to March 2) will be spent on background screening and a pre-employment physical. After the completion of those two requirements, Maniscalco anticipates the hired candidate will provide a four-week notice to his or her current employer with a date of hire around April 2.

Sean D. Cox