An Irvine, Calif., police commander with 30 years on the job has been hired as the new Battle Ground police chief.
Battle Ground City Manager John Williams offered the top police position to Robert Richardson, contingent on Richardson’s successful completion of a full background check.
Richardson will take over as chief Jan. 10, 2011, relieving interim Chief Robert Carden of the position he’s held since Jan. 1. Carden was appointed to replace former police Chief Jim McDaniel, who was fired Dec. 17.
Richardson will have nine months to secure an executive certificate from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. His salary was not available Monday afternoon. Pay range for the position is $96,368 to $114,551.
Richardson was among more than 30 applicants for the position. He was one of five finalists who visited Battle Ground last month for interviews with Williams and various panels of city employees and community members. Richardson and the other finalists completed preliminary background checks prior to Williams making the decision.
The Battle Ground city code gives the city manager hiring and firing authority for the police chief position.
As a commander in Irvine, Richardson oversees 35 sworn officers and four staff members responsible for coverage of numerous villages within the region. The Battle Ground Police Department consists of 35 sworn and non-sworn personnel.
Richardson has worked for the Irvine Police Department for 30 years, rising through the ranks from officer to sergeant to lieutenant to commander. Prior to working for the Irvine department, Richardson served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army, according to his biography on the department website.
He has experience in patrol, criminal analysis, investigations, planning, research and training, emergency management and SWAT. Richardson was also one of the instrumental innovators behind the design and deployment of the department’s mobile communications vehicle, according to the biography.
Richardson obtained his bachelor of science in criminal justice administration from California State University in Long Beach, Calif. He received a master’s of public administration from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
The city hired Bellevue-based Prothman Company to conduct the search. The contract was for $15,000, plus up to $5,000 in expenses.
