Council accelerates process of hiring permanent police chief

Yahoo

06-03-2025

Mar. 5—In a council meeting in which some public comments about newly appointed interim police Chief Nadis Carlisle were supportive but others were critical, the City Council potentially shortened the time he will serve by accelerating the process to hire a permanent chief.
The council unanimously approved changing the application period from 30 days to two weeks.
"I do think time is of the essence," said Council President Jacob Ladner.
Mayor Tab Bowling, who appointed Carlisle, on Tuesday said he was hoping Carlisle would get the City Council's support, "but it appears they're going a different route."
Bowling said when he introduced Carlisle at a press conference last week that the interim chief would likely serve until November and the next council would then select a permanent chief. Bowling on Monday expressed his opposition to the reduced application period.
"Two weeks is no time at all. If you know who you want, go ahead and select that person," he said to the council.
Ladner said he thinks they need to open it up for two weeks to give people an opportunity to apply.
Councilman Kyle Pike said he agrees, and the goal should be to get as many candidates as possible.
"Without opening that up, you're limiting the candidate pool," Pike said. "Anybody that would fit this role in this region is fully aware of what's happening in Decatur."
Ladner said he's received a lot of phone calls about the position since Pinion stepped down.
"I've had literally 20-plus people who have been recommended," Ladner said. "They're aware of this. I think we'll have plenty of applicants."
Councilman Billy Jackson said they've shortened the application period to two weeks twice in the 28 years he's been on the council. Both were because they had internal candidates to promote, he added.
Jackson said Huntsville-based Green Research & Technology provided some suggested candidates for police chief during its independent review of the Police Department.
"I don't think we could go wrong if we even selected a candidate out of that bunch," Jackson said. "I don't have a problem with opening it to get the best candidate."
Councilman Carlton McMasters added they can extend the application period if they don't feel they have enough qualified candidates.
Public comment during Monday's meeting featured a long line of speakers who were split on whether they approved of Bowling's appointment of Carlisle as interim chief. Carlisle spent time after the meeting talking with members of the public who have been critical of DPD.
Councilman Hunter said he believes Bowling, who interviewed three candidates for interim chief, refused to take his and other council members' input on the interim chief selection because of a "good ole' boy system" that brought back Carlisle, a longtime DPD officer.
Bowling said he, Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin and City Attorney Herman Marks interviewed three candidates for interim chief.
"There was no question to us to who the top candidate was, and I was the third vote," Bowling said.
Pepper said he talked to Carlisle prior to his appointment. He said they had a good discussion, but he decided Carlisle wasn't the "proper pick for the job."
Bowling said he would like to see Carlisle "have a chance to bring healing, but that's been stomped down in the community." — Drama
Pepper brought drama to Monday's meeting by taking unexpected shots at former Police Chief Todd Pinion and Bowling. This was the third council meeting Pepper has attended in six months. He has been working out of town on a temporary assignment with the federal government since September.
Pepper then doubled down on Tuesday when he called for Bowling's resignation as mayor — before boarding a plane to leave the city again.
Pepper has been a vocal supporter of Pinion since the fatal police shooting of Steve Perkins on Sept. 29, 2023. However, Pepper on Monday targeted both Pinion and Bowling.
"In 17 months, nothing has been accomplished by our leadership," Pepper said. "And, when I say our leadership, I believe the mayor's office didn't accomplish anything, and neither did the leadership in the Police Department."
Pepper said issues raised by the shooting "were dumped on the council, and it's been a continuous problem."
Bowling expressed surprise that Pepper had a change of heart on Pinion.
"To say I've been neglectful when you've also been a supporter of Chief Pinion, I don't quite understand that," Bowling told Pepper.
The mayor added on Tuesday that "it's hard with (Pepper) to know if that's even true. It's hard to tell if he's shooting straight or not."
Bowling said the last 17 months have been difficult because of the long, controversial council meetings.
"It's hard when they allow people to bash city employees and the city and say the same thing over and over again," Bowling said. "That's just really hard to dig out of."
Pepper said Bowling made statements "that are false or misleading" when he made the Carlisle appointment. He said he believes the mayor is trying to divide Decatur "when all the council wants to do is unify the city."
Pepper on Tuesday initially said Bowling "needs to step up to the plate," but then said, "It's time for the mayor to resign."
Bowling said in response to Pepper's resignation demand, "I guess take it from the source. He has a right to his opinion, and he also has a right to be wrong."
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