By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
In front of a standing-room-only crowd in the City Hall auditorium Monday night, the city council voted to hire Chris Hargett as Russellville's new police chief.
Councilman "Tinker" Malone seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Hargett has been an investigator for 11 of his 14 years with the sheriff's department.
He was one of three finalists selected by the civil service board from 32 total applicants after a months-long interview process.
The city council interviewed all three finalists for more than 30 minutes each at a work session on Thursday, Oct. 14.
Hargett was congratulated after the meeting by many of the numerous RPD officers in the crowd, including assistant chief Robert Pace, who has been serving as acting chief since the retirement of Donnie McGuire, which was official Aug. 31. McGuire served for 19 years as chief.
Mayor Johnny Brown said after the vote that he appreciated the work Pace has done in the interim.
Hargett said he anticipates a smooth transition, despite the fact he will now be supervising several officers who applied for the chief's job.
Hargett said his experience should be a benefit to him as he begins his new duties.