Posted on January 4, 2019
By Tia Lyons
Staff Writer
The search is continuing for a new chief of the El Dorado Police Department.
Members of the El Dorado Civil Service Commission have decided to cast a wider net in their hunt for the next leader of the EPD.
In October, Chief Billy White announced that he plans to retire Jan. 31 after 28 years with the EPD.
White has served as EPD chief since January 2013, having succeeded Ricky Roberts, who is now Union County sheriff.
Toddy Pitard, chairman of the civil service commission, said the commission extended the deadline to accept applications and resumes.
The original deadline was Dec. 15 and Pitard said candidates now have until Jan. 15 to submit applications for the position.
“We’re changing our advertising to open it up to more applications,” Pitard said. “We want to get enough applications to make sure we get the best person for the job. We want to make sure we’ve got the best pool of applicants to pull from.”
Commissioners said a few applications, all in-house candidates, had been submitted by the original deadline.
Pitard said the commission subsequently decided to extend the Dec. 15 deadline by 30 days in order to use additional sources to advertise for the job.
The civil service commission has run newspaper ads and posted the job on social media sites, including Facebook.
Pitard said the commission will broaden its online reach through the use of job search websites, such as Indeed.com, and others that target the law enforcement community.
He also said he has spoken with White, who has agreed to stay past Jan. 31, if necessary.
“We’re not dragging our feet, but I don’t want the commissioners to feel like they’re in a big rush, either,” Pitard said. “The safety of our city is important. The mayor and the (El Dorado City Council) have entrusted us with this job, and we want to do the best we can to find the best candidate, whether they are internal or someone outside the police department or El Dorado.”
To request an application, call Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer’s office at 870-862-7911. Applications are also available online at eldoradopolice.org or goeldorado.com .
Applications and resumes may be submitted to the Civil Service Commission at 201 N. Jefferson.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews. com .