Finalists Named for Oak Ridge Police Chief

City Manager Mark S. Watson announced today the six finalists for the Police Chief position:

  • James T. Akagi – Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Daniel W. Carroll – former Assistant Chief of Police, Paducah, KY
  • Daniel R. Hughes – former Chief of Police in Surprise, AZ
  • Charles R. Iseman – Deputy Chief of Police, Grandview, MO
  • Robert C. Merchant, JR – Chief of Police, Altamonte Springs, FL
  • Joseph M. Reynolds – Police Chief, Lenoir, NC

    • The Mercer Group Inc. of Santa Fe, NM was engaged by the City to recruit for the Police Chief opening. “I am pleased that over 115 individuals throughout the country were interested in our opening,” stated Mr. Watson. “This speaks well of the reputation of the Oak Ridge Police Department. There were a number of well-qualified applicants and it was difficult to narrow the field to just six applicants. I am especially pleased that three current officers were interested in the opening and regret that they did not make the final cut.”

    The six finalists have been invited to Oak Ridge for interviews on May 5, 2011. Interviews will be conducted by two interview panels, one consisting of Police personnel and City staff members, and the other consisting of community representatives. Each candidate will also have a one-on-one interview with the City Manager and be taken on a tour of Oak Ridge.

    From 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. that evening, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host a forum to which the public will be invited in the Social Room of the Recreation Building in the Civic Center Complex.

    The successful candidate replaces former Police Chief David Beams, who recently retired after more than 40 years of service. The City Manager hosted community forums earlier this year to gather public input into the desired profile and characteristics of the position of Police Chief.

    News media contact: Amy Fitzgerald (865) 425-3554 or afitzgerald@oakridgetn.gov.