The man selected as Clarkston’s new police chief says he wants to get acquainted with business owners, residents and local officials, and claims he’ll do plenty of ‘walking and talking? to accomplish that goal.
Dale LaCroix, retired Waterford Township deputy police chief, received word about 8 p.m. Thursday he’d been selected to run the Clarkston Police Department.
The offer came after the city’s Police Chief Selection Committee rendered the recommendation at a special council meeting Aug. 30, after months of researching candidates, sifting through resumes, conducing interviews, discussing expectations for the department and consulting with experts.
Although LaCroix asked officials to hammer out a contract and other details before he officially accepted the position, officials hope he’s the man to restore order and respectability to the department.
‘The committee spent a lot of time and effort on this decision,? said Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, who lent 35 years? experience in law enforcement to the city’s long process of finding and hiring a qualified chief. ‘Having sat on the board, I’m positive they committed their best resources to getting the best guy for the job.?
Both final candidates were highly credentialed and highly skilled, LaBair said, and made his opinion clear to the committee: either man would perform well as the city’s next chief.
Ultimately, however, LaBair weighed in for LaCroix.
‘I listened to his answers (during the interviews), and I saw what I perceived to be the needs in the city,? LaBair said. ‘LaCroix has an edge in being able to do the things (Clarkston) wants and needs.?
Four other members of the committee’city council members Kristy Ottman and Mike Gawronski, along with Charles Inabnit and Steve Arkwright, who both served on the city’s Police Study Committee’agreed.
Councilman Bill Rausch favored candidate finalist Don Tillery, a state program manager with the Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division who was forced into retirement by after a serious on-the-job injury.
Tillery, who claims to be fully recovered from his accident, boasts expertise in terrorism and weapons of mass destruction education, and is currently Chief Operations Officer of Tuebor Group, a Clarkston-area organization specializing in disaster preparedness training.
Tillery also held titles with the Michigan Department of Homeland Security, and earned certifications in related specialties with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.
Although impressed with Tillery’s credentials, commanding physical presence and friendly personality, most members of the committee ultimately felt he did not possess practical day-to-day street and administration experience offered by LaCroix.
‘My impression of LaCroix is that he’s lived it,? said Councilman Mike Gawronski, who said he felt both men brought positive attributes to the table, despite ‘a couple of question marks? in the background investigations performed as a courtesy through the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. ‘He’s (applied for and won) grants, he’s done all the little things we need a police chief to do, and I’m confident he’s going to know how to handle any situation that comes up.?
Committee member Steve Arkwright agreed.
‘Tillery is a dynamic guy. He walked in the room and I was like ‘let’s go have a beer,?? Arkwright told council Thursday, essentially echoing sentiments expressed by other committee members. ‘I wanted to (vote for) Tillery.?
But, he explained, when background check issues arose, LaCroix’s answers were honest and straightforward.
Councilman Bill Rausch, however, vehemently disagreed, and suggested he might resign from council if he could not persuade a change in the majority vote.
‘The background check was one of the issues,? he said. ‘To me, LaCroix is more of a liability than an asset.?
Although other members of the committee disagreed, Rausch stood steadfast in support of Tillery, who, he said, had already developed a website for the department and had been riding with city officers for several weeks.
‘I didn’t see anything in the (police committee) report from the citizens that said ‘we want a nuts and blots kind of guy,? said Rausch. ‘They want someone with personality, someone who will go out and greet people.?
Rausch also told council he’d spoken with Tillery about the department’s lack of trained officers.
Brining police personnel up to date, he said, should be a priority for any new chief.
‘You’re going to need some training big time,? said Rausch. ‘You’ve got guys in here that haven’t shot in years. We have some serious deficiencies in training.?
Ultimately, the committee voted to recommend LaCroix, and the city council voted 4-2 in support.
Rausch and Councilman Cory Johnston voted no, although Johnston’s vote was not in support of Tillery, but rather, he said, opposition to the fact that the council was not provided with enough time or information to make an informed choice.
Committee members, however, assured council that great effort was made in selecting the best candidate.
‘This is the most difficult decision I’ve made as a council person,? said Kristy Ottman, who also served on the Police Chief Selection Committee. ‘Tillery has the personality, but LaCroix has other (skills) he can bring to the table, and I’m not sure Tillery has those (skills).
The committee, Ottman said, discussed pros and cons of each candidate at length, and in detail.
‘None of us wants to put our name on something we think is going to fail,? she said. ‘I just think, given the credentials, LaCroix is the better choice.?
Mayor Sharron Catallo expressed appreciation for the efforts.
‘It’s always a hard decision,? she said. ‘But it has to be done, and we have to move forward. I have no doubt the committee did a great job.?
The police chief position was advertised with a salary range of $38,000-$42,000, with minimum healthcare benefits available.