Three police chief finalists all qualified

?I didn?t think I could like any of them better than I did the first,? said Vice Mayor Patti Nunley, ?but then I met the other two.?

The sentiment was shared by all committee members.

?I think any of them could do the job,? said Safety Committee member Bobby Kirby. ?They are all good candidates but we can just pick one.?

With all the applicants being qualified, perhaps candidate Audie Holloway summed it up best when he said during his interview, ?At this point, I know you are going to match disposition of the person with the position.?

When it comes to disposition, the committee could pick between laid-back and even-tempered person, a straight-up and straight-forward personality, or a self-starter with a take-charge attitude.

The laid-back and even-tempered applicant is Carl Watkins who sees himself as ?easy to get along with? and says ?I don?t lose my temper at all.?

Watkins is involved in numerous community service programs in Eaton Rapids, Mich., including Siren, a domestic violence/homeless shelter, and child abuse and neglect prevention.

When asked why he would want to move from a large area like Whitmore Lake, Mich., to a small town he said, ?Maybe that?s part of the answer. I was shot at twice and that?s detrimental to my health. I like the South. This part of the country has friendly people. I was originally born in Tennessee.?

The straight-up and straight-forward applicant is William C. Sewell, who prefers to be called Charlie. ?If I don?t like what you are doing, I?m going to tell you, but I?ll be diplomatic about it,? Sewell said.

In his position as chief of police he sees himself as a team leader who?s a ?people person? and a ?mentor.?

Sewell is also involved with numerous community activities. He is the driving force behind rejuvenating the Neighborhood Watch program in his area and founding VIPS, volunteers in police service, to help with activities such as traffic control.

Moving to a small town is something Sewell embraces. ?I can see myself walking down Main Street and stopping in the shops and taking to people,? Sewell said. ?I?m very much a people person. McMinnville has a hometown feel and a home atmosphere.?

Laughter wasn?t in short supply when Sewell showed his sense of humor when he was asked about what he thinks about police ethics. ?If police officers live in a glass house, then the police chief lives in a glass house with his underwear on. I believe I have to set an example and so do the officers.?

The self-starter with a take-charge attitude is Holloway, who believes in the ?chain of command.?

When asked about his perception about the police chief position, he said, ?I set a tone for the community. I do this so they feel safe and secure and they can go on with their lives whatever that might be. I have to let people know that if they call someone will be there to help.?

He would expect all police officers to ?treat the public the way you would want to be treated, if you were in that situation.?

According to Holloway, the one thing that can?t be tolerated as chief of police is dishonesty among police department employees which he says ?can?t be allowed. You have to talk to them about what they have done and you can?t soft shoe it. Dishonesty can damage a department?s reputation.?

As for moving to a small town, Holloway says he likes mid-sized towns because he likes the countryside and adds, ?I really like what you have done with downtown. There is nothing prettier than a nice Court Square in a town.?