Niles gets new chief
NILES — Acting police Chief Jaisan Holland will serve as the city’s next police chief.
A chance for the two test takers to object to the results of the test was waived Tuesday and the Niles Civil Service Commission certified the results.
At the commission’s meeting, Mayor Tom Scarnecchia announced the results and said a formal appointment will take place at today’s Niles City Council meeting.
Capt. John Marshall also took the test, and both candidates scored very well, above the average of 82, Tom Harwood, chair of the commission said.
“(Marshall) is a good test taker, it was a very competitive process and a difficult exam. It speaks well of the leadership at the department that we both scored well,” Holland said.
The only other factor besides the test score was points for seniority, Harwood said. Holland has served as a police officer in the city since 2000; Marshal has served since 1995.
After the points for seniority were awarded, Holland’s score was highest, Harwood said.
Holland, 42, replaces Chief Robert Hinton, who retired earlier this year.
“Chief Hinton left the department in a very good place. I hope to continue leading the department out of the financial difficulties we’ve endured,” Holland said.
Holland said he wants to update some of the department’s equipment, something he already started as acting chief by using money obtained through grants and the impound lot to buy bullet proof vests and new cruisers.
If the funding works itself out, Holland said he wants a full-time street crimes unit to help rid the city of drug dealers and crimes that hurt the public.
“As acting chief, Chief Holland did an admirable job, now that the testing is over, its time to get to work again,” Scarnecchia said.
A lot of pressure will be on the chief to keep the department’s budget in check, Scarnecchia said.
Holland may have a slight paycut in the position, because as a salaried employee he won’t be eligible for overtime and holiday pay. He will earn 5 percent more than a captain with equal seniority, the city ordinance states. He is currently earning about $41 an hour, according to a pay chart from the city auditor’s office.
Holland has been married to his wife Jennefer Holland for 14 years and said he is a “proud” graduate of Youngstown State University.
rfox@tribtoday.com
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