Beatrice City Council moves Murphy to Interim Police Chief
Veteran officer has served as Director for more than a year, following the November 2023 resignation of Chief John Hickman
By News Channel Nebraska
BEATRICE – The head of the Beatrice Police Department will serve under a new title for now.
Jay Murphy, a veteran officer in the department, changes his job title from Director of Police to Interim Chief of Police….following action by the city council Monday night.
Due to that position being governed by the Civil Service system, the position eventually has to open to testing and applications for the position of police chief.
City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the interim police chief designation can remain for up to four months, and then the Civil Service Commission must open the position for testing of candidates and interviews for selection of a full-time police chief. The commission makes a recommendation to the mayor and city council, and the council approves selection of a chief.
Murphy says he’s been told by others in law enforcement that he is the only known leader of a police department in Nebraska with the title of Director of Police.
He says it has been, to a degree, a source of confusion when the city gets requests to contact the Chief of Police…or in dealing with training sessions that are put on by Chief of Police groups or associations.