The City of Battle Ground is on track to hire a new police chief by next month.
Alisha Smith, communications manager for the City of Battle Ground, stated staff are optimistic that a new chief of police will be in place by early March as the hiring process is progressing smoothly.
“The city has extended a conditional offer to a candidate for the chief of police position,” Smith stated in an email. “The candidate has successfully completed the background check; however, they still need to complete the final pre-employment screenings before we are ready to make the announcement.”
Last month, the City of Battle Ground entered into an interlocal agreement with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for Chief Administrative Deputy Michael McCabe to serve as interim police chief for Battle Ground after Chief Mike Fort retired at the new year.
The interlocal agreement with CCSO was agreed upon on Jan. 2 and is effective until March 31. McCabe currently assumes the daily responsibilities and duties of a police chief and serves as an adviser to the city manager regarding police department operations, procedures and needs, according to previous reporting by The Reflector.
