Charlevoix police chief: Two finalists vie for job left empty by scandal

Editor's Note: The online version of this story has been updated to reflect a change in date for the second round of interviews.

CHARLEVOIX — There are two finalists in the running to fill the position of Charlevoix's chief of police, a vacancy created last fall when the previous chief of 18 years, Gerard Doan, abruptly resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.

A city investigation found that Doan engaged in a pattern of “repeated and regularly inappropriate conduct” in the workplace.

Interim Charlevoix Police Chief Robert Scholey, 41, is one of the applicants who stood out among the 20 total resumes submitted to the city for consideration. As a Charlevoix native and Charlevoix Police deputy chief, Scholey was selected to temporarily fill the role of chief when Doan stepped down in late October.

Scholey has worked in law enforcement for over 29 years, most recently joining the city’s force after retiring as the senior undercover narcotics detective with the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department in 2020. He has a master's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University and coaches the Charlevoix High School Junior Varsity football team in his spare time.

The other competitor chosen by council as a serious contender for the job is Jill McDonnell, 53. With 28 years of law enforcement experience under her belt, McDonnell worked as the emergency management coordinator for Charlevoix and Emmet counties from 2020 to 2022. Prior to that, she held various positions with the Auburn Hills Police Department, leaving there as a lieutenant operations division commander.

She has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 2014. McDonnell's husband, Terry McDonnell, is the current police chief for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

Subscribe:Subscribe for the latest local news

Along with two other finalists — Kurt Etter, a public safety director from Jonesville, Michigan, and Kevin James, an undersheriff from Laramie, Wyoming — Scholey and McDonnell met with council members and city manager Mark Heydlauff on Wednesday, Jan. 18 for their initial interviews.

In an almost six-hour meeting, council ultimately agreed that Scholey and McDonnell had emerged as the two strongest contenders for the position.

During the interview process, each candidate was asked the same set of questions. Designed to illuminate a person’s unique priorities, personality and management style, the questions ranged in style from the traditional, “What are the three most important personal attributes that you bring to the City of Charlevoix Police Department?” to the hypothetical, such as “An airplane and a car crash occur in the city at the same time in different locations, what do you do?”

More:Charlevoix police chief resigned amid sexual harassment accusations

“I’ve been preparing for this position my whole life," said Scholey, when describing his public service calling to Charlevoix's city council.

To the question, "How would your coworkers describe you?" he responded, "Tell me what you want and I'll help you get there."

A positive work environment that encourages officers to speak their mind is key, according to Scholey, in a plan to retain those currently on the force and to recruiting new officers.

"If you think something is wrong, my door is open ... let's talk about it," Scholey said, in an example of a communication oriented conversation he would have with one of his officers.

When asked about his proudest career moment, he said, "Watching the people I work with succeed."

Scholey also mentioned an outside audit he was helping to facilitate in order to pinpoint department areas that need improvement.

During her interview, McDonnell presented council with a plan for the first 90 days on the job if she were to be hired as police chief. The details included familiarizing herself with the department, meeting other community members and taking inventory of all the equipment, among other tasks.

When asked about the potential impacts of tourism on the police force, McDonnell said, "It is a matter of balancing competing interests. Tourism brings a lot of good and a lot of bad — we need to make sure that you are treating everyone fairly and equitably."

McDonnell also emphasized the importance of "developing our employees to be the best they can be" as an important part of recruitment and retention for the force.

The police department’s development in the wake of Doan’s mismanagement was a reoccurring theme throughout the evening, with some council members in favor of Scholey because of his proven ability to encourage staff communication. Two Charlevoix police officers spoke in support of Scholey, providing examples of how he encouraged participation in professional training and taking initiative on the job. Other council members expressed appeal for McDonnell as being a much-needed fresh perspective on the organization’s operations.

City council member Janet Kalbfell said in support of McDonnell, "We need a fresh set of eyes."

The process at city hall was open to the public but saw only a handful of interested attendees in the audience. Doan himself was present, taking notes as he observed the interviews. When McDonnell finished her interview, he encouraged her to thank each council member with a handshake before she left.

Also in attendance was Charlevoix Police Interim Sergeant Barbara Orban and Charlevoix Police Officer Matt Umulis, who both provided feedback for council.

Council ended the meeting without a decision on either candidate and has scheduled a second interview for both at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix police chief: Two finalists vie for job left empty by scandal