BIDDEFORD – The city has effectively put its search for a new police chief on an indefinite holding pattern.

In January, former police chief Roger Beaupre resigned after more than 40 years of service leading the department. Beaupre announced his resignation in September but finding an “appropriate” replacement has been more of a challenge than anticipated, according to city officials.

In the meantime, Interim Police Chief, and former deputy chief, JoAnn Fisk will remain on the job.

“This will, in no way whatsoever, affect or impact our ability to respond and to provide services for all Biddeford citizens,” Fisk said. She declined to comment further on the ongoing search process.

According to a press release issued by City Manager James Bennett, the city launched an “inclusive recruitment process” to find a successor shortly after Beaupre announced his retirement last year.

The city, according to the release, contracted with GovHR, a human resource consulting firm, to provide assistance for a national search for candidates. A nine-person panel that included Mayor Alan Casavant, City Councilor Doris Ortiz, a representative from the Police Advisory Board, two residents, a representative of the business community, the city’s chief operating officer and the city’s assistant assessor reviewed all applications and presented three candidates to the City Manager for final consideration.

Bennett did not return calls for comment. According to the press release, he “conducted final interviews in early 2023 with the intention of recommending a final candidate to the council.”

But things did not go as planned.

“Though quite a few qualified individuals applied for the position, I ultimately concluded that suspending the process at this time was best for the community and the members of the Biddeford Police Department,” Bennett wrote in a statement issued to the media. 

In the release, Bennett pointed to an ongoing budget process that will be “more challenging” than the last few years and said the city is facing “other pressing issues,” but declined to say what those issues are.

“The city is just starting what will be a more challenging budget process than the last few years. That challenge, along with other pressing issues, is contributing to the decision to put the search on hold,” Bennett added.

Bennett said he is “very confident in Interim Police Chief JoAnne Fisk’s continuing ability to lead the department during the transition,” adding that he can see “no reason to rush the process of appointing a new chief, knowing that the department is already in capable hands.”

At-Large City Councilor Doris Ortiz said the city received applications from 16 candidates during the review process.

 “The timing is a bit of a challenge,” Ortiz said. “But I really think we’re making an earnest effort to find a candidate that fits our specific criteria and that decision requires us to be very deliberate in our selection-making process.”

Ortiz said it remains unclear when the search will resume and declined to speculate about how many more applications the city might receive during this time-out period.

“This is an important decision,” Ortiz said. “I think we all want to get it right rather than rushing through the process just to check a box on the to-do list.”

Ortiz said the hiring committee is seeking a candidate that meets the criteria and goals that were raised during a resident feedback process last year.

“We’re really lucky that we have an outstanding interim chief, and that allows us the time and opportunity to get it right,” she said.

Randy Seaver can be contacted at randy@randyseaver.com.