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Public commenters urge St. Helens council to appoint acting police chief; council to consider action at regular session
Summary
At the March 19 St. Helens City Council work session, several residents urged the council to make Acting Chief Hogue the permanent police chief immediately. The council moved the topic to the regular session agenda for action; no formal appointment vote occurred during the work session.
St. Helens — Multiple residents urged the St. Helens City Council on March 19 to appoint Acting Chief Hogue as permanent police chief, and the council moved the item to the regular session agenda for a vote later that evening.
Supporters said the department has suffered from a problematic hiring process and personnel departures and that Hogue has restored stability while serving as acting chief. Dustin King, a former St. Helens Police Department officer, told the council the department "is at a crossroads" and urged immediate action: "There is no need for an evaluation period. There is no need to look elsewhere. You have the answer to your problem sitting right in front of you." Freddie Preehime, a resident, similarly urged the council to "move him and move today to make him the chief."
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