Lansford Borough could have a new chief of police by the end of the year.

The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association began advertising the position on Aug. 11, and the deadline for resumes and cover letters is Aug. 31.

The borough enlisted the services of the state chiefs association after an online petition and recommendation of the mayor to hire Shawn Nunemacher, the borough’s officer in charge, failed.

The borough has been without a chief since Jack Soberick retired in May 2022.

Advertisements in local newspapers for the chief of police opportunity refer potential candidates to the association’s website.

The borough approved the ad earlier this month.

“We believe that the PCPA role is to provide expertise to guide a municipality in the employment process while always ensuring decisions are at the sole discretion of the board that we serve,” said Gregory M. Bean, consulting services coordinator for the association, in an email.

The association also provided general information regarding the process of a chief search, which includes in-person or virtual meetings with a municipality or board to determine what attributes it values in a chief.

“Our organization has vested interest in locating not only the best qualified candidates for the municipality, but also a leader who is a good fit for that community,” Bean said.

The association, in addition to posting the job on its website, which it says is viewed by more than 14,000 people a month, also emails the listing to more than 5,000 who signed up for the service.

The association receives and ranks the resumes, provides the municipality with all of the resumes, and then meets with the municipality “to provide our expertise on the training, education, and experience of the candidates.

“The municipality then decides who will be interviewed,” Bean said in the release on the process.

The association also provides all correspondence and interaction with the candidates throughout the process, he said.

The association also offers three different levels of testing for search and discusses the merits of each with the board to determine the best fit and value, Bean said.

The association does not disclose the exact process, as it is propriety, and disclosing details would affect or change the process for the candidates, he said.

Following testing, the association provides the municipality with a ranked listing of test scores for each candidate and a breakdown of their strengths, Bean said.

The association then arranges for two to four candidates to return independently to meet with the municipality in a less formal setting, “helping the board to determine who is the best fit for their community.”

A member of the association is present for these meetings to assist the municipality, and a sampling of questions is provided to the board to help with the interview process.

The association also helps after a candidate is selected with questions, the background review or negotiations with the candidate, he said.

A chief search typically takes between three and four months, Bean said.

The job listing on the association’s website for the Lansford position states the chief is responsible for supervising all police personnel, plans, schedules, and coordinates and directs their activity.

The chief also provides protection of lives and property, prevention of crime and enforcement of laws and borough ordinances.

The chief must live within a 30-mile radius of the borough, and be a U.S. citizen.

The chief’s position is not covered under the borough’s civil service ordinance, the listing says, and the chief supervises five full-time officers and part-time, as available.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration or related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Also, a minimum of 10 years police experience, including three years supervisory experience.

Salary will be based on upon experience and qualification, and the anticipated starting salary is in the mid-$70,000 range, the listing states. The position includes benefits for the successful applicant and their family.