Keller named as police chief

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The Newcastle City Council voted to appointed Sam Keller as the city’s new police chief and advertise for two patrol officers during the council’s Sept. 21 meeting. The two officer positions are the patrol position left after Keller’s promotion to chief and one that will be  vacant in six weeks when officer Kellie Moran’s resignation is official. 
Personnel committee member Councilman Roger Hespe reported to the council that the council of the whole interviewed four potential applicants for the position before recommending that the city hire Keller at $28.75 an hour to fill the position. 
The council voted to appoint Keller as chief. and he was immediately sworn in.
Keller, who was hired on Oct. 21, 2019, was appointed as interim chief on July 6, effective July 11, after the abrupt resignation of Owens.  
A total of eight applications were received by the city. Among them was Officer Levi Tacy, who attended the meeting, and was identified as an applicant by Councilman Tom Voss. The News Letter Journal was unable to obtain information regarding the identity of the other applicants. 
As previously reported by the News Letter Journal, City Clerk-Treasurer Greg James reported that the city had no “stated or written” perceived qualifications or requirements for the police chief and that the choice would be based on the applicant’s resume, application and interview. 
Advertising for applicants was done by Owens, said James, who added that be believes Owens made the announcement on a police website. James was charged with answering any questions the city received about the position.
Look in next week’s NLJ for more about Keller.