List for Jackson police chief down to three

The Jackson police chief search committee narrowed its list to three candidates Friday.

The finalists are Jackson police detective James Humphreys; Douglas E. Lebert, police chief in Lebanon, Ill.; and Jeffery Womack, recently retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Gaming Division.

Absent from the list was Capt. Robert Hull, who has been serving as interim chief for nearly six months. Hull did not return phone messages left at work and at his home.

All three candidates will meet with the committee on April 29, city administrator Jim Roach said. The committee will meet again Monday to finish its list of interview questions.

Humphreys has 13 years of experience, the last 10 years with the department in Jackson. He started as a patrolman and after two years was promoted to sergeant in 1996. He was promoted to lieutenant over the detectives in 1998 and has served in that capacity ever since.

"It's always been a goal of mine to be chief here," he said. "I love the department and I love the community and this community deserves the best. I know the men in the department, our strengths and weaknesses and I'm glad I'll get a shot at it."

Womack, 50, has 31-plus years experience in law enforcement -- four years as a security officer in the Air Force, 2 1/2 years as a Jackson police officer and 25 years with the highway patrol.

Originally from Parma, Mo., Womack said Jackson was his first home away from home.

He said he sees the Jackson job as an "opportunity to return to Jackson and complete the career I started there."

Early retirement

He said he retired due to an attractive early-retirement settlement by the state.

"There have been several legislative measures to entice early retirements and cut costs," he said.

Lebert could not be reached at work on Friday and has an unlisted home telephone number.

Jackson has been almost six months without a chief. On Oct. 21, former chief Marvin Sides resigned after an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a female dispatcher. No criminal charges were filed against Sides.

The hiring process slowed during the last few weeks.

Lt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's department did the legwork on the detailed background checks. He said he had to perform the checks on seven people, a few more than what he said he was originally told by the city.

He said a thorough and complete check usually takes about a week per candidate. He said he put in more time to check seven candidates in 20 business days after being handed the list on March 6.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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