With a job ad that will be available for one month, St. Paul formally began its hunt for a new police chief on Thursday.
After a six-year term, Todd Axtell resigned at the beginning of June. Jeremy Ellison, most recently a deputy chief, was appointed as the department’s interim leader by mayor Melvin Carter.
Early in May, Carter declared his intention to appoint the next police chief in the late summer or early fall. Carter’s press secretary, Kamal Baker, stated on Thursday that the timeframe had not changed.
Depending on experience and credentials, the beginning pay for the next CEO will range from $132,000 to $180,000. The wage range was $114,000 to $161,000 when St. Paul last looked for a police chief in 2016.
The city council of Minneapolis authorized an expanded pay range of $257,000 to $300,000 last week. Minneapolis is also looking for a police chief.
At a cost of around $43,000, St. Paul hired AB Strategic Security Group to find applicants, evaluate applications, and promote qualified candidates to the city’s already-established police chief examining committee, according to Baker.
The deadline for applications is July 22 at noon. Carter will receive five recommendations from the examining committee after they have reviewed applicants, conducted interviews, and led community engagement activities. He will then choose a chief to hold office for a period of six years.
