St. Helens council names Joe Hogas interim police chief for six months after debate on evaluations and governing rules

The St. Helens City Council voted March 5 to appoint Joe Hogas interim chief of police for a six-month term subject to a mutually agreeable employment agreement, and the city may hire a permanent chief at any time during the contract term.

Councilors spent much of the meeting debating how and when the city should complete its governing rules and evaluation process before finalizing a permanent hire. Several members said they wanted the council’s attorney and staff to clarify whether the position must be posted publicly, whether any pay or retroactivity would be included in a contract and how evaluations—potentially including 360 reviews—would be performed.

Why it matters: The appointment follows several months with Hogas serving in an acting capacity (council discussion referenced that he has been acting since October). Council members said they want to correct past procedural flaws, complete updates to governing rules and put evaluation processes in place before making long-term personnel decisions. The council scheduled a work session on March 17 to address governing rules and related…