MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council
FROM: Mayor Alan DeBoer
DATE: June 11, 2003
RE: Appointment of Interim Police Chief

______________________________________________________________________

JUNE 17, 2003 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Due to health concerns, Scott Fleuter has announced that he will be resigning from the position of Police Chief in late August. The same health concerns that have prompted his resignation will also cause him to be out of the office and unable to be Police Chief beginning June 28, 2003. As a result, an interim Police Chief needs to be appointed. According to the City Charter, this is an appointment of the Mayor with confirmation by the Council.

I am requesting that the appointment of Lt. Rich Walsh as interim Police Chief effective June 28, 2003, be confirmed by the City Council.

There is no fiscal impact associated with this interim appointment.

By way of background, Lt. Walsh joined the Ashland Police Department as a Reserve Officer and a Parking Control Officer in 1981. He became a Police Officer in 1982, was promoted to Sergeant in 1996 and to Lieutenant in 2000. Lt. Walsh has a B.A. in criminology from Southern Oregon State College. Lt. Walsh has indicated that he will not be a candidate for the Police Chief position, which will allow him to focus exclusively on performing the duties of Interim Police Chief.

Back to Top