After serving as interim Chief of Police in Carbondale for the past 13 months, Jeff Grubbs has been named to the post on a permanent basis.
City Manager Kevin Baity introduced Grubbs during a news conference Tuesday at City Hall. He said Grubbs was the unanimous choice of the search committee to lead a department he has been a part of for 24 years and led on an interim basis twice.
"One might say that Jeff has earned his experience as Chief during times of turmoil and uncertainty."
There have been questions about Grubbs residency in relationship to the job since he lives outside the Carbondale city limits and city department heads are supposed to live within the city limits. He says he has always been and will continue to be in compliance.
"I'm not going to let that become a distraction. So, that's all we'll pretty much have to say about that. You know, we'll move forward. There's many more important things that need to be done, not only in the police department, but for the community."
Grubbs replaces Jody O'Guinn, who was fired in August 2014 after his rocky five-year tenure as police chief.
The department has drawn criticism from some community members over how O'Guinn handled the investigation of the death of 21-year old Molly Young in 2012 and the disappearance and death of 19-year old SIUC student Pravin Varughese in February 2014. Grubbs says he will try to be as transparent as possible while protecting the integrity of investigations.
"It's very easy to say release it, release it, release it. But, when we look at what that could do as it relates to jeopardizing the justice in the end for the families, and not wanting to victimize those crime victims all over again, that's where we have to be considerate."
Grubbs was the unanimous choice of a panel selected to make a recommendation for a new chief. He takes over the new post immediately.