Firm will likely be contracted to assist with new chief search
After a nearly 50-year career in law enforcement, Bartlesville Police Chief Tom Holland announced last week he will retire effective July 6.
Holland has served as chief of the Bartlesville Police Department since returning to law enforcement in 2007 following a 10-year career as the manager of Corporate Security Worldwide for Phillips Petroleum Co. This is his second stint as BPD chief. He served from 1990 to 1993, prior to accepting the position with Phillips Petroleum. He has also served in the law enforcement community as a police officer, detective and FBI special agent.
“It has been a profound honor to serve the men and women of the Bartlesville Police Department as Police Chief — not once but twice in my law enforcement career,” Holland said. “The citizens of our community are so very special and I will miss the opportunity to interact with them as their chief. I wish everyone God’s best.”
Acting City Manager Mike Bailey told the City Council on Monday that a search firm will likely be brought in to assist with finding a new chief. He said the council could be asked to consider approval of a contract with a firm at the next council meeting.
“We have some good internal candidates, but we want to make sure we bring in the best candidate pool possible,” Bailey said. “We have a great job here. The chief of police of the City of Bartlesville is a very attractive position, and we want to make sure we get the best we can for our citizens.”
Bailey said Human Resources staff will “work diligently” to fill the position as soon after Holland’s retirement as possible.
“In the meantime we’ll be saying goodbye to a man who has served a long time in Bartlesville and who I think most of us would call ‘friend,'” Bailey said. “He’s left quite a legacy in Bartlesville and I know he is much beloved in the community. He will certainly will be missed.”