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Rockford Police Chief Finalists Will Be Named Next Week

Finalists in the search for a new Rockford Police Chief will be announced early next week, according to the Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

The new chief will fill the position left vacant by Chet Epperson, who retired last November.

With the help of search firm IOS Solutions, the board is winnowing the 26 qualified applicants. The board is scheduled to review applications and select three or four finalists at its meeting next Monday. 

The finalists will be introduced at an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the Nordloff Center, 118 N. Main St., in downtown Rockford. Members of the public and key community stakeholders are invited to attend the open house and meet the finalists. The board welcomes feedback on the finalists before the final decision is made.

The finalists face a day-long comprehensive evaluation after the open house. Commissioners have scheduled full-day sessions this Friday and Monday through Wednesday next week.  A final decision on the next Chief of Police is expected before the end of the month.

A total of 59 applications were submitted, but 33 of those either fell short of the minimum requirements for the job or did not submit all the information required to apply.