- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Selection process for Clearlake Police chief narrows to final candidate
At the end of December, the city announced that Chief Craig Clausen – who had been off work due to an injury for two years at that time – had retired, as Lake County News has reported.
At the same time, the Clearlake City Council appointed Lt. Tim Celli, who already had been doing double-duty as acting police chief since December 2015, as interim chief.
In February, the city began the process of choosing a new police chief, selecting Ralph Andersen & Associates to lead the executive search process.
The firm hosted a Feb. 26 public meeting to take input on what the community wanted in a new police chief.
The council held a special closed session meeting on June 8 to discuss the police chief selection, but city officials said no action was announced out of that meeting.
City Manager Greg Folsom confirmed to Lake County News this week that the city has a final chief’s candidate.
Folsom explained that part of the process of hiring a police chief is a pre-employment background investigation that is completed per the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST.
“Completing those requirements typically takes three to four weeks,” Folsom said. “During that time we are working through the contract negotiation process as well.”
He added, “Assuming there are no background issues and we are able to come to a contract agreement, I anticipate an announcement and contract approval in July and a start date in August, but it is all subject to completing the background and agreeing to contract terms.”
While the city isn’t announcing the individual who is its top pick, Lake County News was able to confirm that Celli, who had earned significant community support for his bid to be the chief, is not the final candidate.
Although he originally told Lake County News he didn’t intend to seek the chief’s job on a permanent basis, Celli later did put his name forward.
When contacted for comment, Celli confirmed to Lake County News that it was true that he was not selected as the final candidate, but that he’s continuing his work for the agency.
“I’ve been really proud of the work we’ve all done here at the Clearlake Police Department,” he said.
He said they’ve been able to reduce homicides by 85 percent and overall crime by 6 percent, and made internal changes.
Celli has been credited with getting the department the equipment it needs – from more patrol vehicles to a new dispatch console. He’s also kept staffing rates up for both officers and nonsworn employees such as dispatchers.
A longtime member of the department himself, Celli said, “I am looking forward to working with a new chief with some fresh ideas.”
Lake County News has so far not been able to confirm if Russell Perdock, the city councilman who stepped down in February in order to pursue the police chief’s job, is the top pick or is out of the running altogether.
Folsom said he could not discuss the matter, because the hiring process is a confidential one ”and I cannot comment on who may or may not have applied or what their status is.”
Perdock did not respond to requests for comment from Lake County News.
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