St. Helens council approves police hiring evaluation process, schedules public forum for May 7

The St. Helens City Council on April 2 approved a process to evaluate candidates for the city’s police chief position, directed staff to hold a public forum about a proposed police station on May 7 at 6 p.m., and voted to draft a letter in support of a county jail levy for the mayor’s signature.

Councilors said the hiring process is intended to produce a vetted recommendation quickly: interviews are expected “in the next 30 days,” and the evaluation committee will score applicants and recommend the highest‑scored candidate to the city administrator for council approval. The council approved the motion by unanimous voice vote.

Under the approved plan the city will convene an evaluation panel composed of: 2–3 people with law‑enforcement expertise from outside the community (the council said it will consult the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police for recommendations); one councilor and the speaker who proposed the process will serve on the panel; two local law‑enforcement representatives as available; and the city administrator in a non‑voting role. The council instructed that any recommended candidate must pass background checks, a psychological evaluation and a fitness‑for‑duty analysis before the administrator forwards the nomination to the council.

Councilors also voted to direct staff to plan a public forum on the proposed police‑station site for May 7 at 6 p.m., saying the meeting will allow the city to share information with the public on the site and project details.

Separately, the council approved a motion directing staff to draft a letter in support of the county jail levy for the mayor’s signature.

During the visitor comment period, Councilor Utterson read a letter from Sheriff Pixley praising the leadership of the department’s acting chief. That letter said, in part, “I want to take a moment to commend the city of St. Helens Police Department for the remarkable progress it has made under acting Chief Joe Hogue,” and urged the council to consider making the acting chief permanent. The letter was submitted for the record and read into the meeting minutes.

Councilors also asked City Attorney Ashley Wygott to review a continuing public records request from resident Ron Tomlinson for materials tied to the Walker report; the council indicated consensus to have the attorney examine whether additional information can be released.

What happens next: staff will schedule the May 7 public forum, the evaluation committee will begin interviews and scoring as soon as candidates are available, and any recommended finalist will be presented to the city administrator and then to the council for approval.