Bayfield’s town manager and its new police chief were sworn in before the town board Tuesday evening.
Town Manager John Waters and the Bayfield Police Department’s new police chief Sean Dugan were sworn in by Municipal Court Judge Shawn Shawn Davlin. Both swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution and operate without prejudice under the laws of Colorado and the town of Bayfield.
Bayfield Town Clerk Dustin Hayden said that Dugan officially began work as police chief on May 1.
Waters has been serving as town manager since July. Though Waters is not technically required to be sworn in under town statute, he was because of the newly appointed town council, Hayden said.
“Statutorily, town managers are not required to be sworn in,” Hayden said. “The timing was for the new Board of Trustees to take over.”
Neither Dugan nor Waters responded to requests for comment.
Dugan was hired as the town’s new police chief in April. In a prior interview with The Durango Herald, he said he was committed to building relationships with Bayfield residents and to draw on his four-decade career in law enforcement.
Dugan will serve as the top administrative officer for Bayfield’s police department, according to the position’s job description, and will oversee police field operations, records management, criminal investigations, officer training, patrols and support the town board and town manager.
Dugan will be paid an annual salary of $124,000 and be given insurance and other benefits. Additionally, he will be subject to performance reviews, according to his employment contract.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
