City Council Chooses New Police Chief for Maple Grove

After eight months of waiting, Maple Grove residents can welcome a new police chief to the community.

On Monday, Oct. 3, in a 3-1 vote during a continuation of their Sept. 22 special session, city council members quickly agreed that Deputy Chief David Jess would be a perfect fit. Jess is expected to be formally appointed at the City Council’s next meeting on Oct. 17.

The position is not new to Jess. When former Police Chief Ramona Dohman submitted a leave of absence and eventually a letter of resignation, Jess stepped into the role temporarily. He has been the acting chief of police since Feb. 22, 2011.

Maple Grove’s city council members approved Dohman’s leave of absence last winter.  When she submitted her letter of resignation last August, the City Council began reviewing their options for a new police chief.

Though the decision to hire Jess came quickly on Oct. 3, councilmembers spent five hours collecting information and interviewing three internal candidates Captain Tracy Stille, Captain Keith Terlinden and Jess during a Sept. 22 special session. The City Council had asked each candidate more than 20 questions and discussed the decision at length during the late September meeting.

After an hour and a half of deliberating during the September special session, staff decided to take more time to reflect upon each candidate and reconvene on Oct. 3 to make a final decision.

Though the City Council agreed that all candidates were qualified, Jess was a first choice for Councilmembers Leann Sargent and Karen Jaeger. Councilmember Phil Leith was torn between Stille and Terlinden, the two captains.

“It’s a hard decision because they are all so good,” said Councilmember Jaeger at the continued special session. “But David Jess has been with the department a long time. I know he’ll do a great job.”

During the continued session, Mayor Mark Steffenson mentioned that each candidate had special strengths and weaknesses. In the end, he, too, nominated Jess for the position. Councilmember Erik Johnson removed himself from the interview and voting process due to a potential conflict of interest.

Jess was hired as a Maple Grove police officer in 1985. According to the city’s website, throughout his tenure with Maple Grove, Jess served as a patrol officer, investigator, patrol sergeant, emergency response unit commander and patrol captain. In 2005, Jess was promoted to deputy chief.