ST. LOUIS COUNTY— Parallel searches for new police chiefs in four cities here led to one city picking a new top cop the night before he interviewed for the job in another city.
The awkward timing highlighted the competition local governments can run into while recruiting for top jobs, at a time when at least four St. Louis County cities are conducting parallel searches for a new police chief.
Bellefontaine Neighbors aldermen approved the appointment of former Alliance, Nebraska, chief Philip Lukens on Monday, after previous board members had twice rejected him.
The next day, Lukens met residents in Webster Groves as one of four finalists for the same job there. He remained under consideration as of Wednesday, Assistant City Manager Eric Peterson said. Neither Lukens or Bellfontaine Neighbors Mayor Dinah Tatman responded to requests for comment.
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Meanwhile, Ballwin, the county’s fifth-largest city, is set to interview about 20 candidates who applied for the job. And Moline Acres is set to start a search soon.
The hiring of police chiefs is often a critical choice for most cities, said Pat Kelly, executive director of the Municipal League of Metropolitan St. Louis, an association of local governments. Police chiefs are often among the most publicly visible and highest-paid government employees.
“Public safety is one of the most important services that municipalities provide for their residents,” Kelly said. “And they want to make sure they have somebody in that position that is going to represent the highest quality of service and represent the community as a whole.”
Bellefontaine Neighbors
In Bellefontaine Neighbors, a suburb of about about 10,450 residents, Lukens’ appointment had seemed unlikely for months amid a political feud between Tatman and a former aldermanic majority.
The board of aldermen voted 4-2 against Lukens’ appointment at meetings in February and March. Webster Groves, meanwhile, announced Lukens as one of four finalists on April 12.
Bellefontaine Neighbors Aldermanic President James Thomas, who opposed Lukens’ appointment, said many residents had called for the city’s next chief to be someone with strong local ties, who better reflects the community in the majority-Black suburb. Lukens is white.
But Tatman said Lukens was favored by police officers, some aldermen and several residents who interviewed finalists from a total 10 applicants, including some current Bellefontaine Neighbors police officers.
Tatman asked for a third vote Monday after two new board members, elected to open seats April 2, were sworn into office. The board then voted 4-2 to confirm Lukens, who did not join the teleconference meeting.
Former chief Jeremy Ihler retired in October after 26 years with the department, the last seven as chief. Ihler was paid a $95,385 salary in 2023, according to city records.
Webster Groves
In Webster Groves, Lukens is one of four finalists selected after a nationwide search to lead police in the suburb of about 24,000 residents.
Three other finalists are:
- Webster Groves Cpt. Gregory Perks. Perks has served as acting chief since longtime chief Dale Curtis retired in December after 27 years leading the police force.
- Vincent Acevez, deputy director of the Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security for Cook County, Illinois, part of the Chicago metro area.
- Lt. Nathan Thompson, a police commander in Lancaster, Texas, part of the Dallas metro area.
Webster Groves City Manager Marie Peoples, under the charter, appoints the city’s police chief. A recording of the public forum Tuesday night, meant to get public input on each of the candidates, was published to the city’s YouTube channel. A online survey for public feedback will be open until 5 p.m. Friday.
Peterson, assistant city manager, said the city hopes to hire a new chief within the next two weeks.
The new chief would be paid an annual salary between $110,635 and $154,898 and lead a department 48 officers and two administrative employees.
Ballwin
In Ballwin, a west St. Louis County suburb of about 30,600 residents, about 20 candidates have applied for the job of police chief, City Manager Eric Sterman said. The city posted a job notice in March and plans to hire a new chief as early as June.
A new chief would replace Douglas Schaeffler, who was fired in a closed-door meeting last December after four years as the city’s top cop and a total 36 years with the department.
Schaeffler is suing the city, alleging officials fired him after employees submitted complaints against him in retaliation for asking another city’s police force to investigate Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue.
Pogue has said Schaeffler had violated several department rules, including purchasing alcohol while in uniform and discriminating against employees. Ellisville police said the complaint Schaeffler gave to them was “unfounded.”
The new chief would be paid a starting salary between $118,717 and $127,978 and lead a department of 47 officers and 13 other employees.
Moline Acres
In Moline Acres, officials plan to post a public job notice for a new chief, four months after former chief Gregory Moore retired in November.
Mayor Michele DeShay said the department had struggled with turnover in recent months, but would begin a hiring process in coming weeks.
The new chief would lead a department of about 15 officers in the north St. Louis County suburb, which has about 1,300 residents. Moore, chief for 6 years, was paid $51,840 in 2023, according to city records.