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Editorials
Montgomery chief served with integrity : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisMontgomery chief served with integrity
| 2/4/2010
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In discussing the pending departure of long-time Montgomery Police Chief Dennis Schmidt last week, Village President Marilyn Michelini said it best. "Whoever we hire to replace (Dennis) will have very big shoes to fill," Michelini said.
Indeed, Schmidt has served as the village's top cop since 1981. He began his career with the village police force in 1974 as a cadet and then rose through the ranks from officer to sergeant prior to his appoint as chief. In his role as chief over the past 29 years, Schmidt has guided the village police department as it continually grew and modernized to keep up with the village's rising population. Along the way, Schmidt gained a well-deserved reputation in the village and throughout the Fox Valley for his professionalism, fairness and integrity.
When Schmidt departs the village police station as chief for the last time Feb. 28, the village will lose not only one of its most important leaders, it will also lose a great deal of institutional memory. Schmidt knows the village inside and out. He also understands how and why things have occurred within the police department and in municipal government over the past three decades. That type of historical perspective is invaluable in a still growing community and usually can be gained only by years in a position.
It's now up to Michelini to appoint a new chief, subject to the approval of the village board. At issue currently is whether or not the village will hire a consulting firm to conduct a nationwide search for Schmidt's successor. Due to the village's budget constraints, some board members may not want to spend the money for a consultant. However, given the importance of the police chief's job, we believe the board has an obligation to village residents to hire a consultant and complete a thorough search for applicants, both inside and outside the department. Throughout the process, the board should be seeking candidates with the same level of integrity and professionalism as Schmidt, but also those who have a vision for taking the police department to the next level of excellence.
A few years ago, a long-time police chief in Oswego retired and the board chose to hire a consultant who completed a nationwide search for applicants. After interviewing several candidates, the board ultimately decided to support the appointment of one of the department's own officers, Dwight Baird, as police chief.
A similar scenario could very well play out in Montgomery. The village could still hire from within if it uses a consultant. For this all-important position, the residents of Montgomery need to be assured that village officials have considered as many qualified candidates as possible.
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