Exeter hires current officer Stephens as Police Chief
July 17, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At the Exeter City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 10, one of the major items on the agenda was filling the vacant role of chief of police.
According to Exeter City Clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, Lindsey Dooley, who had been serving the city as interim police chief since September 2018, was initially offered the job but turned it down.
Needing a chief of police, the council opted to offer the job to officer Willie Stephens, who has been working for the city as an officer since September 2018.
According to alderman and mayor pro tem Rhonda Scott during the meeting, she and Exeter mayor Lance Eaton approached Stephens with the idea sometime in between the June and July council meetings.
Stephens agreed to accept the role. He is currently on vacation and will not be able to take on the role until his expected return to duty on Monday, July 22.
During the meeting, Eaton and Scott revealed that Stephens would be hired on to the job on a 90-day probationary basis. After that period, the council will review his work and make a final decision as to whether or not to keep him on as chief on a permanent basis.
Council members also stated during the meeting that Stephens would be expected to expand his patrol hours within the city to beyond its most crucial patrol times. Stephens will still be expected to work 40 hours per week, but the city will require that the times in which he patrols have more variation outside of critical periods, such as after school and other high traffic times.
According to Eisbenbraun, Stephens will not receive an increase in pay until after his 90-day probationary period has ended.
For more information on this or other city council decisions, contact Exeter City Hall at (417) 835-2823.
Vinnie Roberts
At the Exeter City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 10, one of the major items on the agenda was filling the vacant role of chief of police.
According to Exeter City Clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, Lindsey Dooley, who had been serving the city as interim police chief since September 2018, was initially offered the job but turned it down.
Needing a chief of police, the council opted to offer the job to officer Willie Stephens, who has been working for the city as an officer since September 2018.
According to alderman and mayor pro tem Rhonda Scott during the meeting, she and Exeter mayor Lance Eaton approached Stephens with the idea sometime in between the June and July council meetings.
Stephens agreed to accept the role. He is currently on vacation and will not be able to take on the role until his expected return to duty on Monday, July 22.
During the meeting, Eaton and Scott revealed that Stephens would be hired on to the job on a 90-day probationary basis. After that period, the council will review his work and make a final decision as to whether or not to keep him on as chief on a permanent basis.
Council members also stated during the meeting that Stephens would be expected to expand his patrol hours within the city to beyond its most crucial patrol times. Stephens will still be expected to work 40 hours per week, but the city will require that the times in which he patrols have more variation outside of critical periods, such as after school and other high traffic times.
According to Eisbenbraun, Stephens will not receive an increase in pay until after his 90-day probationary period has ended.
For more information on this or other city council decisions, contact Exeter City Hall at (417) 835-2823.