Field of eight to be interviewed for police chief post

With Police Chief Fred Rosenau’s retirement coming in May, the Orchard Lake City Council will be conducting back-to-back interviews for the position on Monday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 12 at City Hall.

The interviews are open to the public.

Out of over 35 resumes received, council members pared the list down to eight qualified candidates.

Council members along with Rosenau and retired Bloomfield Township Police Chief and Orchard Lake resident Jeff Werner rated each candidate. The ratings were then reviewed by an ad hoc committee comprised of Mayor Bruce McIntyre, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Talpos, and council member Jerry Kosmensky, which narrowed the field to eight.

“Everyone that will be interviewed have qualifications and then some for this position,” Rosenau said. “None of them would be a disappointment.”

The following represents a snapshot of the candidates selected to be interviewed:

• Richard Duffy, captain of the Patrol Services Division in Wayne County since 1989, where he is still currently employed;

• Orchard Lake Police Detective Darrell Betts, who has been with the city since 2004, but began his career in 1977 assuming roles such as an officer in Holly, a detective sergeant in Dade City, Fla.; and a lieutenant for Lake Angelus. He also worked at the Department of Natural Resources for a decade.

• Carl Fuhs, a retired 34-year veteran of the West Bloomfield Police Department. From 1997-2010 he was the acting executive lieutenant.

•Joseph Chapin, who has been in law enforcement for over 32 years. He retired from the West Bloomfield Police Department as its deputy chief.

• Howard Smith, who currently serves as a police chief in Lapeer County. He has been in law enforcement in some capacity since 1978.

• Joe George, the former Wolverine Lake Police Chief who has amassed 27 years with Southfield Police and another 13.5 years at the helm of the village’s police force. He retired last year.

• Anthony Banks, who has served as an Orchard Lake patrol officer since 2000. His background includes the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served from 1991 until 2003. He started as a private in the military and worked his way up to sergeant and subsequently served in that capacity from 1995-2003.

• Tim Sheridan, who has been in law enforcement since 1975. His last post as the West Bloomfield Police Department captain spanned from 1999 until 2006, after which he retired.

Rosenau will be part of the interview process, but the final decision will be made by the city’s governing body.

It is uncertain at this time if a new chief will be in place prior to Rosenau’s exodus April 30.

“It will be awfully tight,” McIntyre said. “We will still have to negotiate a contract and finish the background investigation.”