Baxter Council Still Deciding On Police Chief

Baxter Aldermen said Thursday they wanted to spend more time on evaluating applicants, before deciding on a new Police Chief.

Interviews began Tuesday from internal and external candidates selected by MTAS. Aldermen Greg Phillips said he needs more time to think about the choice.

“We have a great bunch of guys that’s applying for the Police Chief job,” Phillips said. “It’s a hard decision and you want to make the right decision, and I’m telling you that’s one of the hardest decisions you have to make, I just think that the right decision will be made.”

Baxter Mayor John Martin said the search is difficult because of of the abundance of applicants the council has received. Martin said the council will consider a special meeting to make a decision.

“The Board wants to have more time to make sure that they make the right decision on the new Police Chief,” Martin said.

Phillips said he was very thankful for the police department as the department has been proceeding without an interim Police Chief.

In other business, former Baxter Police Chief Danny Homes resigned from the Baxter Planning Commission.