Evans to help city with selection of permanent replacement

OTHELLO — Jake Evans doesn't plan to be with the City of Othello too long, but hopes to help the police department find the right person to replace him.

Evans started Monday as interim police chief for the Othello Police Department, a position vacated with the resignation of Chief Ron Axtman late last month.

A 37-year veteran of law enforcement, Evans is no stranger to the interim chief position. After retiring as chief of the Auburn Police Department more than a decade ago, he has worked for five previous law enforcement agencies as interim chief during transition periods.

The Othello City Council voted last week to expend funds for an interim chief for up to six months while a replacement for Axtman is found. Evans has also been asked by City Administrator Ehman Sheldon to help with the selection process of a permanent chief, a process Evans said he has helped other departments with in the past.

"He was selected for his past experience with police departments," Sheldon said of his decision to choose Evans as Interim chief, adding that Evans will be able to assess the needs of the department in the interim.

Axtman resigned last month following a few months of unrest at the OPD. An Othello Civil Service Commission decision in June upheld Axtman's without-pay suspension of an officer, but also cited friction between Axtman and that officer.

In a separate report released in May, an independent consultant indicated "deep personal divides" within the department. That report mentioned Axtman as the center of problems, bringing both negative and positive comments over his tenure.

That report indicated the need to unify the department should be the city's long-term goal.

As interim chief, Evans said his job over the next several months will be to look at the department. He said he will help fix any problems that need to be fixed, and help with the recruitment and selection of a replacement. That replacement, Evans said, is someone who should be the right fit for the department they will run. "Fit" is a quality Evans said is the most important for a chief at any police department.

"A certain kind of chief is necessary at any given point in time," Evans said.

Sheldon said Evans will help the city find the right chief for the city, and be that right fit for the department.