Who will be Bluffton Police’s next chief? Town Council interviews candidates Thursday
The search for Bluffton Police Department’s newest chief continues Thursday as four candidates participate in panel-interviews with Town Council.
Town Manager Marc Orlando, who is responsible for appointing the next chief, said he’s already completed a first round of interviews with a “significant number of police chief candidates.”
More than 80 applications were submitted, he said. Two years ago, 63 candidates applied for the job.
Orlando said applications have come from around the region, the state and beyond.
“It’s been an incredible response,” he said. “The process speaks a lot about the profession and the Town of Bluffton, where we have more than 80 extremely qualified and extremely interested candidates.”
On Thursday, four candidates will interview with Mayor Lisa Sulka and Town Council in addition to interviewing with an appointed panel of citizens. The set up mirrors the hiring process from 2018.
The interviews will be in executive session, with no public access.
Orlando said the search is not far enough along to publicly announce candidates’ names.
South Carolina law does not require applicants’ names be released until three or fewer people remain in the selection process. The law also does not require governments to hold public interviews of finalists for top public positions, but several statewide organizations support public access to candidates before hiring.
In 2018, the two finalists for the chief job participated in a public forum in which citizens met the candidates and asked questions. Orlando previously told The Island Packet that hosting a similar event may be difficult because of COVID-19 precautions.
The interview process is expected to last through late August and possibly into September.
“The job hasn’t been filled yet,” Orlando stressed. “It’s going to remain open until filled.”
The position came open in June, when former Chief Chris Chapmond resigned after less than two years with the Bluffton Police Department to become chief of the Hot Springs, Arkansas, Police Department. Chapmond started his law enforcement career there, and his family still lives there.
Until Bluffton has a new chief in place, Capt. Scott Chandler is serving as interim chief. He’s no stranger to the position, having been interim in 2018 between permanent chiefs.
Whoever is hired will be the department’s fourth chief in as many years.
