Search for new Kalispell police chief underway

The process to find a new police chief in Kalispell is underway.

On Monday the city released a job posting for the position, which will remain open until Jan. 31.

Roger Nasset stepped down from his post as police chief last month after 24 years with the department. He said he planned to take a job in the private sector focused on security.

Administrative Captain Wade Rademacher is currently serving as interim chief.

City Manager Doug Russell said the department was trying to remain free from bias toward internal or external applicants in the search for a new chief, but he suspected they would field multiple strong internal applications.

“From a general standpoint, any organization likes to work on sustainability efforts, that’s just a natural thing to try and do,” Russell said. “I would anticipate strong applications coming from the department.”

Russell said they wouldn’t evaluate any of the applications or conduct interviews until the window closed at the end of the month, and he was unsure how long the evaluation period would take. He hoped to include a public forum for residents to meet the finalists, and much of the timeline depended on the availability of the finalists to all attend.

“We’re just checking off one thing at a time,” Russell said.

The salary range for the non-union position is pegged at $83,926 to $107,432 per year.

The minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven years experience in law enforcement, five of which should be at the sergeant level or higher.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.