The Town of Whiteland Town Council on Tuesday appointed Sergeant Polly as interim police chief and voted to open a two‑week application period for the permanent police chief position.

Council members said the interim appointment is intended to provide stability while the town conducts a formal hiring process following the retirement of Chief Shipp. A council member who made the motion said the interim police chief “may not promote without consent of the Board of Public Safety.”

The council directed staff to post the full‑time chief job on the town website, the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy listings and the town’s Spillman (records) system, and on other law‑enforcement recruitment databases that Clerk‑Treasurer Julia Meese identifies as appropriate. The posting period was set to remain open for two weeks from the date of publication, with resumes routed to the clerk‑treasurer’s office, to Julia Meese and to all council members. After the application window closes, council members said they will schedule an executive session to discuss which candidates to interview.

Council members urged internal candidates to apply. One council member said, “Lieutenant Cox and Sergeant Polly both apply,” encouraging the two officers who had expressed interest to submit applications through the posted process. The council also explicitly encouraged external candidates; a council member said the town expects interest from outside applicants.

During the meeting a member of the public, identified as Mr. Pauley, thanked the council and praised the department, saying, “Eric’s one of our best officers,” and offering support for a smooth interim transition.

The council’s vote to post the job and open the two‑week application period passed unanimously, 5‑0. The transcript shows the interim appointment motion carried and that the council proceeded with the hiring‑process vote, but the roll‑call record for the interim appointment in the available transcript excerpt includes one member voting “no” and one member’s response recorded as “staying,” which is not explicitly defined in the record. The council proceeded with the procedural steps for the search regardless.

Council members said the executive session called after the application period will be used to discuss which applicants to interview; the transcript does not record whether interviews themselves will occur in executive session or in open session.

Next steps: staff will publish the vacancy on the specified boards, accept applications for two weeks, compile resumes for council review and set an executive session to select candidates for interview. The transcript does not specify a date for the job posting or for any subsequent interviews.