Cottonwood City Manager Scotty Douglass has appointed Chris Dowell as the city’s interim police chief following Steve Gesell’s termination last month.
Dowell has been the acting chief since June after Gesell was placed on administrative leave.
Dowell has been with the city of Cottonwood for six years following employment with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Army’s military police.
A press release sent out by the city on Oct. 2 said, “Interim Chief Dowell is known not only for his professional dedication but also for his personal ties to the community, making him a well-respected figure among residents. As a family-oriented individual, he understands the importance of fostering a safe and secure environment for all.”
Douglass is beginning an open recruitment process to select a permanent chief that will include interviews with finalists and will be similar to a process previously used by the city. He has not decided whether the city will undertake the process directly or whether it will work with a professional recruiting firm. Douglass noted that it is often more difficult to find talent to fill specialized positions in rural cities, so the recruiting firm may open up the search to more candidates.
“Timing is everything,” Douglass said, adding that the best practice is to avoid recruitment during the holidays. When the city of Cottonwood opened recruitment for the city manager position in 2022 around the holidays, no one was selected. The city then used a firm that tried again in January 2023, which resulted in Douglass applying and being selected for the position.
The city’s timeline will likely begin with securing a recruitment firm, then posting and advertising the position. Douglass said that recruitment will probably open sometime early in January, which he thinks is the time period likely to draw the most candidates.
The city will then review applications and conduct interviews. An evening reception will be held for city employees and residents to meet the candidates. Douglass said that while the appointment is his responsibility, he wants to get input from staff, council and residents.
The leading candidates will next be interviewed before a conditional job offer is made. Candidates for police positions are given conditional job offers because they must complete background investigations, medical evaluations, fitness tests and a polygraph before receiving a final job offer and start date.
Douglass and the city are looking for a candidate who has a high level of ethics, is a strong team player, is respectful of their peers and is able to have appropriate responses when dealing with difficult circumstances.
“One of the things I look for in employees is if you make a mistake, to own the mistake,” Douglass said. “Own your mistakes, say how you’re going to correct them, then improve and move on.” He is also looking for someone who is innovative and creative.
