Columbia Lists 4 Finalists for Top Cop Post
CPD assistant chief is among the final candidates; public forum and meet-and-greet is set for October 18
The city of Columbia has selected four finalists in the search for Columbia’s next police chief. The city announced the finalist selections, which includes current Columbia Police Department Assistant Police Chief Jill Schlude, in a news release Monday afternoon.
Police Chief Geoff Jones retired August 1, 2023, after more than 24 years with the Columbia Police Department. Matt Stephens, assistant chief of the CPD’s Special Services Bureau, has been serving in the role of interim police chief while the city seeks to fill the position.
In addition to Schlude, the other three finalists are Nathaniel Clark, former public safety director and chief of police, Forest Park, Georgia; Dan Haley, major, Kansas City, Missouri; and Michael Zeller, deputy police chief, Greeley, Colorado.
NATHANIEL CLARK
Clark served as the public safety director and chief of police in Forest Park, Georgia from 2020 to 2023. Prior to being public safety director and chief of police, he worked as the interim city manager and chief of police in Forest Park.
Before working at the city of Forest Park, he worked as the chief of police at the Fort Smith, Arkansas Police Department from 2017 to 2019, and the deputy chief of the Albany, Georgia Police Department from 2012 to 2016.
Clark’s education includes a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Webster University in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Additional professional development includes:
- FBI National Academy
- Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), Boston University, sponsored by PERF
- Chief Executive Leadership, Southern Police Institute (SPI), Louisville, Kentucky
DAN HALEY
Haley has served as a major in the human resources division in Kansas City, Missouri, police department since 2023.
He has worked as a major in the research and development division, the logistical support division, the south patrol division, the special assignment office of general counsel, staff inspection, and as a captain/assistant division commander for central patrol, diversity commander, assistant division commander for north patrol, budget unit commander, employment unit commander, sergeant, and police officer.
His education includes a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, a Master of Public Administration in Public Affairs/Government and Business Relations from Park University, and a Bachelor of Science in Personal Financial Management Services from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Additional professional development includes:
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Mentoring Potential CEOs Program
- FBI National Academy
JILL SCHLUDE
Schlude has served as the assistant police chief in Columbia, Missouri since 2019. Prior to being assistant police chief, she worked as the deputy chief of police, a police sergeant, and a police officer in the same department. She has been with the Columbia Police Department since 2005.
Schlude’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College and a Master’s in Strategic Leadership from Stephens College.
Additional professional development includes:
- Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), Boston University, sponsored by PERF
MICHAEL ZELLER
Zeller has served as the deputy police chief in Greenley, Colorado since 2018. Prior to being deputy chief of police, he worked as a police commander, a police sergeant, and a police officer/detective in the same department. Before working at the Greeley Police Department, he worked as a deputy sheriff at the Grand County Sheriff’s Office from 1998 to 2001, and the Denver Sheriff’s Department from 1996 to 1998.
Zeller’s education includes a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Additional professional development includes:
- Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.
The city will host a community forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, in the city council chambers at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, where the final candidates will have an opportunity to share their vision for the future of policing in Columbia. The forum will be open to the community. Attendees will be able to leave comments that will be taken into consideration in selecting the next chief.
The city took questions from the public until October 6. City staff and the hiring consultant will determine common themes to identify the topics and questions most important to the community.
Immediately following the community forum, a meet-and-greet is scheduled until 9 p.m. for community members to interact one-on-one with the final candidates.