Spring Break
Department launches search for new chief
Police chief Ikner's resignation leaves position unfilled
By: Matt Nance
Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: News
Police Chief Michael "Ike" Ikner will resign June 30, but his replacement has not been found, said assistant city manager Kathy Merrill.
"We hate to see him leave, he's a great chief. We wish he could stay," Merrill said.
An interim chief must be found to replace Ikner at the end of the month.
"We do not know who will be the interim chief yet, we will be making those decisions in the next few weeks," Merrill said.
The interim police chief will assume all of Ikner's duties until a permanent police chief is found.
"The interim police chief typically comes from within the department but can be brought in from an outside source," assistant chief over administrative services Scott McCollum said.
The city manager's office makes the final decision on who the new chief will be.
"There is a sense of disappointment with him leaving. Chief Ikner was a great leader, he came with some great ideas and a vision," assistant police chief Jeff Capps said.
Chief Ikner implemented a different way of policing, called the geographic accountability model.
"Once Chief Ikner came we split the city up into eight beats. We basically assign a sergeant to each of those eight beats and they are responsible for that beat 24/7," Capps said. "What that does is it gives the community a contact person that they know. If there is an issue in the area they have a contact person that can help. Through this model, officers can track crime more effectively."
The geographic accountability model is a five-year plan and will carry over to whoever assumes the chief of police position.
"I think a new police chief will see the merits of the vision," McCollum said.
College Station went without a permanent police chief for seven months while searching for Ikner.
The city manager's office used the Waters consulting firm, an executive search firm, to find Ikner, and may use them again.
"If we go to a search, we would consider them because they guarantee their candidate will stay," said Merrill. "If they leave within a year they will do a complete search for free, and if they leave within two years they will give the city a 50 percent discount."
Michael Ikner
Michael Ikner received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Dallas Baptist University, master's degree in criminal justice and criminology from UT Arlington, and graduated from the FBI's National Academy. Ikner served as Arlington Police Department for 23 years, retiring as assistant police chief before coming to College Station.
"We hate to see him leave, he's a great chief. We wish he could stay," Merrill said.
An interim chief must be found to replace Ikner at the end of the month.
"We do not know who will be the interim chief yet, we will be making those decisions in the next few weeks," Merrill said.
The interim police chief will assume all of Ikner's duties until a permanent police chief is found.
"The interim police chief typically comes from within the department but can be brought in from an outside source," assistant chief over administrative services Scott McCollum said.
The city manager's office makes the final decision on who the new chief will be.
"There is a sense of disappointment with him leaving. Chief Ikner was a great leader, he came with some great ideas and a vision," assistant police chief Jeff Capps said.
Chief Ikner implemented a different way of policing, called the geographic accountability model.
"Once Chief Ikner came we split the city up into eight beats. We basically assign a sergeant to each of those eight beats and they are responsible for that beat 24/7," Capps said. "What that does is it gives the community a contact person that they know. If there is an issue in the area they have a contact person that can help. Through this model, officers can track crime more effectively."
The geographic accountability model is a five-year plan and will carry over to whoever assumes the chief of police position.
"I think a new police chief will see the merits of the vision," McCollum said.
College Station went without a permanent police chief for seven months while searching for Ikner.
The city manager's office used the Waters consulting firm, an executive search firm, to find Ikner, and may use them again.
"If we go to a search, we would consider them because they guarantee their candidate will stay," said Merrill. "If they leave within a year they will do a complete search for free, and if they leave within two years they will give the city a 50 percent discount."
Michael Ikner
Michael Ikner received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Dallas Baptist University, master's degree in criminal justice and criminology from UT Arlington, and graduated from the FBI's National Academy. Ikner served as Arlington Police Department for 23 years, retiring as assistant police chief before coming to College Station.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com