Screening Begins for Dozens Seeking CPD Chief Position

Columbia, S.C.  (WOLO)  —  Now that the job posting for a new police chief for the City of Columbia has closed, the screening process begins in what officials are calling an ‘aggressive’ approach to find permanent leadership.

City of Columbia human resources director Pamela Benjamin says dozens of folks from New York to Pennsylvania, to Illinois to Washington State and here in South Carolina filled applied for the Chief of Police position. Now, she says it’s on to screening them.

“We’re trying to be pretty aggressive with our timeline,” said Benjamin.

It’s an aggressive timeline for a highly sought-after position. By 4:30pm Wednesday, there had been 45 applicants, all male, 13 from South Carolina, and all except one claim to possess a college degree or higher. After Benjamin (no relation to Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin) completes the initial weeding out process, a newly appointed police chief search committee will assist with phase two of screening.  Committee chair Robert Bolchoz claims the choice is a critical one in light of the embattled police department having had seven police chiefs in nearly as many years.

“We need consistency, a chief that will provide a long term public safety solution, someone who will be here a while, someone who will be present and someone with proven leadership and a clear strategy for moving forward,” said Bolchoz.

Ruben Santiago has been interim chief since former chief Randy Scott resigned in the spring.
However, that garners Santiago no special treatment, say those in charge of the search.

The first round of interviews are set to begin January sixth. City officials hope to extend an offer to a candidate in February and complete the hiring process in March.  The next chief will be the eighth person to head the department since 2007.