Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 27, 1993 TAG: 9308270238
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Gwaltney could not be reached for comment following the meeting, but had said earlier he would take the job "if it's offered and we can come to terms."
The vote followed a 40-minute closed session to discuss property and legal matters as well as the police chief appointment.
The town has been without a police chief since Mayor Benny Keister decided in May not to renew the contract of Jim McKinney, who had been with the department since 1976 and chief since 1980.
Keister gave no reason for his decision other than to say he felt new leadership was needed. McKinney has threatened to sue the town.
Gwaltney, 54, is second-in-command with the Salem department and could have been in line for the top job in a few years. He has been in police work for 30 years.
He was one of 10 candidates for the Dublin job when it was announced. Council's personnel committee narrowed the candidates to three and interviewed them, Councilman Sam Gregory said Thursday.
Councilman Dave Farmer said two of the three were especially well-qualified, and that Gwaltney was one of those two. "If he will accept, he'll make us a police chief that will take charge, show some real leadership," Farmer said.
The town has seven slots on its police force. Councilman Colbern Linkous had suggested reducing the number to six in June, but changed his mind a week later until the matter of the chief's appointment was resolved.
Since then, one member of the department has resigned. Steve Wallen, the department's investigator, stepped down in July.
Gwaltney was born in Roanoke and grew up in Salem. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1959, served in the U.S. Navy, and began his police career in 1962.
Before becoming a policeman, he sang for a short time with a rock 'n' roll band. He also had the distinction of winning the National Marbles Championship in New Jersey in 1952.
He and his wife live near Dublin.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.