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Search begins for new RH police chief
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The city of Richmond Hill is looking for a new police chief for the first time in three decades.

Current Chief Billy Reynolds, who was elected probate judge in the May 24 primary, will step down by the end of the year and begin his term in January. Reynolds has been with the department 33 years, 31 of them as chief.

Starting salary for the position is $66,000. The city will begin accepting applications Friday.

“We don’t have a set timeline, but we’d love to be finished by Dec. 1,” Mayor Howard Fowler said. “A lot depends on the applications once we see them.”

Fowler said a search committee consisting of City Manager Chris Lovell, Human Resources Director Pamela Pendrak and two City Council members will conduct interviews.

“I don’t think we’ll need to bring in a third party to conduct the search,” Fowler said. “It’s more about just spreading the word.”

The mayor said the city used the same process when Fire Chief Ralph Catlett was hired two years ago. Catlett previously was a battalion chief for the Valdosta Fire Department.

Fowler also said he expects to receive internal applications.

“We have a lot of great officers,” he said.

The RHPD was established in 1977 with a police chief and one officer. Today, it has 32 officers and eight administrative staff and consists of five divisions: uniformed services, criminal investigation, K-9, code enforcement and administrative services.

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