Dilworth City Council discuss next steps to hire police chief, extending job to current acting chief

DILWORTH, Minn. (Valley News Live) – The Dilworth City Council Monday evening discussed options to fill police chief role, one week after their candidate of choice rejected the job offer.

The City of Dilworth extended a job offer to Lieutenant Justin Carloni of Milwaukee back in March following a months-long process to hire a new police chief. But things took a turn last week after Carloni removed himself from consideration. This forced city officials to look at their options during a City Council meeting Monday.

City Administrator Peyton Mastera presented Two options to councilmembers. The first would see the city try again, reopening applications for the position in an attempt to find new candidates. The other option was to go with a candidate that was already waiting in the wings.

“The people we hired gave us two good candidates, narrowed it down for us, and the one we offered it to rejected it. That leaves us with candidate number two,” councilmember Amber Borah said during the meeting.

That candidate is Hunter Rawson, who has served as Acting Chief since last May. He was in attendance at the council meeting Monday which gave councilmembers the opportunity to address him directly.

“We hope you still want to stay here, I’m going to advocate for opening negotiations with the city hall with Acting Chief Rawson,” said councilmember Dave Steichen.

The rest of the council agreed. Each member spoke up in favor of offering the job to Rawson. Mayor Chad Olson, who originally advocated for Carloni, made the motion to begin negotiations between the city and Rawson. He says Rawson has his full support.

“As we spent $25,000 to go 25 feet, this is where the process has brought us,” Olson said.

After discussion, the council voted unanimously to pass the motion.

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