The city of Durango on Thursday announced five candidates for its next chief of police position – including one woman and four men – all of whom have more than two decades of law enforcement experience.

Among the finalists are three graduates of the FBI National Academy, a former employee with the Los Angeles Police Department and the current deputy chief of the Durango Police Department.

The candidates are Jeffrey Bert, chief of police for the city of Tomball, Texas; Ron Comacho, police chief for the city of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Baric Crum, deputy chief for Farmington Police Department; Brice Current, deputy chief for the Durango Police Department; and Jenn Diederich, former deputy chief for the city of Riverton, Utah.

They are seeking to fill the position being vacated by Durango Police Chief Bob Brammer, who City Manager José Madrigal announced Jan. 2 is moving into an assistant city manager position, working directly under Madrigal.

The city is hosting a candidates forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 3 at City Hall, 949 East Second Ave. During the first hour, residents can meet and greet the candidates. During the second hour, candidates will answer questions submitted by residents prior to the event.

Questions can be submitted online at engage.durangoco.gov/police-chief-candidates

Madrigal said about 70 applicants from across the country were selected by a job recruiter for closer consideration by the city. About 20 of them fit the qualifications. Of those, the final five candidates were chosen.

He said the right candidate will carry forward the momentum set under Brammer’s tenure. That includes embracing community policing, building community relationships and being a part of the community.

A new style of policing is taking root at departments across the country, in which officers are expected to teach residents about community laws and “not so much ‘authoritarian,’ if you will,” Madrigal said.

“When crime is happening, arrests and jail (are) necessary, but (I’m) looking for someone to continue developing relationships in the community where learning and helping is more a part and not just enforcement,” he added.

The five finalists have “big shoes to fill,” Madrigal said.

He said Brammer has been an “amazing” and “tremendous” police chief and has led Durango Police Department into a new era of community-oriented law enforcement.

Brammer said his department has 57 sworn officers, including himself, and 25 non-sworn support personnel. He oversees a budget of about $12 million.

Madrigal is responsible for hiring the next police chief, but City Council must approve the appointment.

Brammer said the next police chief should care about the profession of law enforcement and the community as a whole, including those he or she serves, and the officers and support staff he or she oversees.

The ideal candidate will be a continued student of learning, be able to show results, interact with the community, and listen to people’s concerns, while also being honest with them and setting limitations, Brammer said.

Madrigal said the purpose of the forum is to introduce residents to the finalists and show them the hiring process the city has followed, which has been to net a group of diverse, well-qualified candidates, each with their own set of accomplishments.

Madrigal said he is looking forward to bringing Brammer into the city manager’s office as an assistant city manager given his leadership with DPD.

The Durango Herald submitted a records request to the city in January seeking the exact salary being paid to Brammer in his role as police chief and the salary agreed upon for his new position.

As of the end of 2023, Brammer’s salary before a cost of living increase was $162,664.79. Factoring in the cost of living increase in 2024, it becomes $167,545.

The city said no records exist for any new salary as assistant city manager because the position had yet to be approved by City Council.

Brammer confirmed on Thursday his new salary has not yet been determined, although he said he knows it will be in the same range as his current salary.

cburney@durangoherald.com