Change to Perryville police chief hiring process considered

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- For the second time in eight years, former Perryville police chief Keith Tarrillion is at the heart of discussions about changing the process by which the city hires its top law enforcement officer.

Perryville's board of aldermen is appointing a 13-member committee to make recommendations about possible changes to the way the city selects its police chief.

Because Perryville is incorporated as a fourth-class city, state law requires that voters elect a city marshal to serve as chief. The city can convert the chief's role to an appointed position rather than an elected office, but voters must approve the change.

The chief's status as an elected official created headaches for the city in February, when Tarrillion was accused of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to misuse of funds.

"Basically, we had to turn to the city attorney to handle everything," Perryville Mayor Debbie Gahan said. "Our city administrator, who handles personnel issues, had absolutely no say in it."

In 2005, Perryville residents considered switching to an appointed chief but ultimately rejected the measure by a vote of 557-284.

At the time, then-city administrator Bill Lewis told the Southeast Missourian the city favored passage of the ballot measure as a vote of confidence for Tarrillion.

"We would like to retain him on a permanent basis," Lewis said of Tarrillion in an April 1, 2005, article. "He is just an exceptional young man. I've been in this business 30 years in different cities, and I have never run across anybody I felt was as competent in this position as Keith is."

Eight years later, Tarrillion is again part of the impetus behind an effort to change the process, but for different reasons.

Tarrillion resigned March 13 under a memorandum of understanding that requires the city to pay his salary, retirement and health insurance through the end of his term unless he finds other work or is convicted of a crime.

Should he receive his full salary and benefits through April 1, the city could be out more than $83,000.

"It was handled the way it was because it was an elected position," city attorney Thomas Ludwig said last month.

While appointed officials can be fired, elected officials cannot be removed from their positions without formal impeachment proceedings.

Appointing rather than electing a chief could prevent similar problems in the future, Gahan said.

"It just seems to me like it would cut through some of the red tape," she said. "I'm hoping that we're able to change things, but if it's the will of the people, that's why we're elected is to serve the will of the people."

The mayor said the committee -- which will consist of one man and one woman representative appointed by each of Perryville's six aldermen, plus a 13th member appointed by Gahan -- will examine three options: Continuing to elect the chief; asking the public to approve a ballot measure making the position an appointed, rather than elected, office; or modifying the chief's duties and adding an appointed administrator to help oversee the department and its more than $2 million budget.

Gahan said electing a chief made more sense when budgets were smaller, forensic investigation techniques were less advanced and electronic crime did not exist.

"It's a little more complex now," she said of the position.

Currently, a candidate must have a minimum of 120 hours of police training and be a resident of Perryville for at least a year before serving as chief, Gahan said.

"That's not even realistic," she said, noting that patrol officers have to undergo at least 960 hours of training -- eight times the amount required of their potential boss.

"How do you get your people that are serving under the chief, who are better trained, to want to follow someone who doesn't have nearly the training?" Gahan said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

215 N. West St., Perryville, Mo.