By Rick Pusiak
Sudbury's deputy police chief has announced publicly he will not be applying for the chief's position. Jim Cunningham told Northern Life Tuesday he will remain second in command of the department. The deputy has been a police officer for 32 years.
Chief Alex McCauley announced in January that he is retiring from his job and police work, effective Sept. 30.
Cunningham doesn't have a retirement target date and says he's leaving his options open.
"(The chief's job) is not a challenge that I wish to take on at this particular time," said the deputy.
"The board chair and the chief were informed prior to setting the (selection) process in place."
The 54-year old is married to Patricia Cunningham, a retired Inco employee.
They have two children, Sara Cunningham, a police officer with the Sudbury service, and Jodi Cunningham, a local high school teacher.
A deputy chief focuses on the operational side of a police department and updates the chief who deals more with administrative matters. A deputy also substitutes for the chief when that person is away.
It is possible McCauley may retire earlier because of vacation time owed, but that would be worked out in concert with the police services board.
One senior officer has stepped forward to say he intends to submit his name for the position of chief.
Superintendent Ian Davidson came to the Sudbury police service three years ago from Ottawa City Police.
He was raised and educated in Sudbury and graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa.
There are three other senior officers on the local force who are potential candidates, but there is no word yet on whether they will seek the chief's job.
Police Services Board chair Andy Humber has gone on record as saying he and the other board members will consider applications from within the department before looking outside the city.
They believe there is talent in the local service that deserves to be considered.
Before the interviews begin for the chief's position, board members will be trained by the Ontario Association of Police Service Boards on how to pick a chief. The board had the option of simply appointing a successor to McCauley but decided to go the interview route.
A chief from another larger police service will likely be brought in to assist in the interview process.
But it is the board that meets and makes the final decision.
A final decision on selecting the new chief won't be made for another three or four months. Humber wants all board members involved in the process and will wait until city councillor Eldon Gainer recovers from a broken leg and rejoins the group.
If the job competition has to be expanded to outside communities, it could be even longer before McCauley's successor is selected, said Humber.
