Ferdinand chooses chief

Ferdinand — The Ferdinand Town Council decided to offer Ricky Patton the position as police chief for the town.

The council also promoted Lt. Rob Randle to assistant chief. Randle had served as interim chief after Bieker stepped down. Randle will retain the pay raise granted by the council when he was appointed interim chief.

The assistant chief position is defined by town ordinance but had remained unfilled until Randle’s appointment on Tuesday night.

The department is back up to six officers after being down to five when Officer Donna Hurt joined the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

All three council members stated it had been a hard decision to make. Debbie Johnson and Ron Weyer echoed council president Ken Sicard’s view that Patton was the most qualified individual the council and town manager interviewed for the position.

Four of the town’s five current police officers and a Forest Park graduate living in Louisiana also applied for the position. Former-chief Ted Bieker did not apply and has been on leave since announcing he was stepping down in May.

Patton, 43, is currently a Jasper resident. He most recently worked at Jasper Engines and Transmissions. Prior to moving to Jasper earlier this year for his wife’s position with Masterbrand, he had served as a Virginia State Trooper since 2004. Prior to that he owned a small trucking company, R & A Enterprise from 1998 to 2004. He was honorably discharged from the Navy after 5-years of service in 1995.

Sicard stated during the meeting that Patton’s experience in law enforcement as a trainer and patrolman as well as the fact Patton owned his own business and served in the Navy as a fighter jet technician greatly influenced his choice. Sicard explained Patton’s qualifications as a business owner and fighter jet technician substantiated the management skills the town and council is seeking for the police chief position.

The council was very complimentary of Randle’s job as interim chief and commended him for taking the position during the time it took to find a replacement.

“Although we have good candidates from our own department, it is a good idea to have someone outside the department to come in that doesn’t have any kind of preconceived ideas of how things are done,” Johnson said. “And hopefully work with all the strengths of the members of our department.”

If Patton accepts the offer from the council, he is expected to take a drug test on Monday and, once he passes that, will be appointed a deputy marshal for the town. He will then be immediately promoted to the rank of chief of police.

As an officer in Indiana he has to pass the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy requirements within one year of employment. The Law Enforcement Academy will examine his training as a Virginia State Trooper to determine what aspects regarding Indiana requirements he will be required to successfully complete. After completing these requirements he will remain a probationary officer for six months.

Patton, currently a resident of Jasper, will also have to move within 2-miles of the town.

The offer for employment carries a yearly salary of $48,100.

Sicard stated the decision tonight was necessary to move forward and bring the department up to full force. The department has been down one officer since Hurt joined the sheriff’s department and Bieker has been on leave since May. Bieker is due to return to work tomorrow but Sicard stated he was unsure if Bieker would even return to work.

Some are concerned that Patton has a lot to overcome as a newcomer to the community and department. “I really feel that once people meet Ricky Patton, most will like him,” Sicard said. “I think the officers will like him once they meet him. It was a decision that was tough period from day one.”

Sicard stated Patton and his family are on vacation, but he planned on calling him tonight to make the job offer. “He has some challenges coming into a department where nobody knows him and he doesn’t know anybody there,” Sicard said. “but we were looking for the best qualified individual.”

“It was a hard decision,” Johnson said. “Sometimes someone different can bring in new ideas and challenge preconceived ways things are done.”

Town Manager Marc Steczyk said with the decision tonight it is time for the city to move forward and heal. “I feel confident the council made their decision in the best interest of the town.”

“It has been tough from day one,” Sicard said, “it’s been tough on the officers and the city employees but we have heard support to hang in there and keep going. It was tough. It is still tough, but with everything out of the way, I am hoping we can get past this and get back moving positively.”