SEQUIM — Former Police Chief Bob Spinks is a one of five finalists for the police chief position in Columbus, Miss.
The Commercial Dispatch newspaper reported that the top applicants were recommended by a 21-person police chief search committee for the permanent position.
Besides Spinks, 52, the top five selections are Curtis Brame of North Chicago, Ill.; Nathaniel Clark of Albany, Ga.; Sam Lathrop of Beloit, Wis.; and Selvain McQueen, a lieutenant with the Columbus Criminal Investigations Division.
Contacted Wednesday, Spinks called it “an interesting opportunity” but said at this point, he was wondering if the city of Columbus would hire from within the department.
“I look for opportunities that might present themselves, whether they are local or far away,” Spinks said.
“You can be a bridesmaid many times” before you get to be the bride, he added.
Spinks said he was notified Monday about being a finalist but that he has not yet been called back for an interview.
He worked as Sequim police chief from February 2005 to June 2010.
While Spinks said he and his wife, Connie, want to stay in Sequim, there are no such police management jobs available on the North Olympic Peninsula.
He has been teaching online classes in victimology and criminology for Everest University and serves on the boards of the Sequim Senior Activity Center and Olympic Community Action Programs and is involved in the Sequim Senior Meals Program.
He is a part of the nonprofit KSQM-FM 91.5 radio management team, where he is an announcer.
Writes column
He also writes a column for the weekly Sequim Gazette.
He last was a finalist for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania police chief position.
“I appreciate the interest voiced by city of Columbus, Miss., because it is a very active community of 25,000, with a very strong economy,” Spinks said.
“The town is steeped in history, which is interesting.
“But the employment process is a two-way process, too. In my case, I am also evaluating potential employers, too.”
Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett asked Spinks to resign in May 2010 after their management styles clashed.
Spinks left the position July 2 without a new job. He has sought work in law enforcement since.
Spinks’ salary was $86,299 plus benefits when he left the job.
The city provided a severance package that guaranteed him $31,044 — two months’ salary plus payment for unused vacation and sick leave — plus an additional $7,192 if he didn’t find another job by Oct. 1.
His severance agreement also has a non-disparagement clause requiring that Spinks and Burkett and his staff refrain from denigrating each other.
He has about 30 years of policing experience. He previously worked as a trial court supervisor for the state of Oregon Judicial Department 19th Judicial District from 2004-2005; as the director of public safety for Bellevue College in Washington from 2002-2003; as an undersheriff in Benton County in 2001; and as police chief in Milton-Freewater, Ore., from 1997-2001.
Spinks earned a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2005 from the University of Cincinnati.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.