THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120222 SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
City officials have spread the word to police officers across the country: Come to Suffolk to head up the 116-member department, and you're likely to stick around for a long time.
Chief Gilbert A. ``Spud'' Jackson recently announced he would retire this summer, and advertisements seeking his replacement note that he has been in the top post for two decades.
Jackson will leave office July 1, at age 62.
``The fact that Spud stayed so long in that position says a lot about working for the city,'' said Marie A. Dodson, the city's personnel director.
The city is looking for someone with education and experience to fill the shoes of Jackson, a North Carolina native who earned his nickname digging potatoes as a young boy.
Requirements for the position include a degree from a four-year college or university with course emphasis in police administration, criminal justice or a related field.
The candidate also must have 10 to 15 years of ``progressively responsible experience in law enforcement work, including three to five years of major command responsibility.''
City officials also want someone familiar with modern police methods and practices to lead the rapidly growing city of 53,800 people.
The successful candidate would have ``knowledge of the standard practices, materials, techniques and equipment used in law enforcement,'' according to the job description.
The salary range is advertised at $52,893 to $76,694 a year.
The ad has been posted in newsletters of the International City Manager's Association, the Virginia Municipal League and the National League of Cities.
The notice has also run in such newspapers as The Virginian-Pilot, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Charlotte Observer and The Washington Post.
The deadline for applications is April 26.
The police department in the 430-square-mile city includes 116 sworn officers, a clerical staff of 10, a communications division of 20 employees and an animal control division of six employees.
City Manager Myles E. Standish, who will have the final say in filling the department head position, will likely rely on a panel of three to five staff members to review the applications and make recommendations, Dodson said. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Chief Gilbert A. ``Spud'' Jackson recently announced he would retire
this summer, and advertisements seeking his replacement note that he
has been in the top post for two decades. Jackson will leave office
July 1, at age 62.
by CNB