JASPER, Texas — Members of the Jasper City Council interviewed three finalists from the department's command staff to become the city's next police chief Tuesday evening.
The council met at 6 p.m. Tuesday for a special meeting to interview the three finalists. However, after much deliberation no action was taken.
The main item on the meeting agenda was for the council to meet in executive session to interview the finalists.
District 5 Councilman at large Lequin Hilderbrand says all three of the men are great candidates.
He says the fact that all three men would make a great chief of police has the council in a gridlock.
The finalists for the job are all current command staff level Jasper Police Officers, according to Jasper city secretary, Liz Jarrell
They are Interim Chief Mike Poindexter, Lt. Joshua Hadnot and Lt. Garrett Foster, Jarrell told 12News Tuesday afternoon.
Hilderbrand says this decision is not one him and the other council members are taking lightly.
"We just need to make sure we get the candidate that we feel will serve the city well, serve it right, serve it in the best manner humanly possible. We're not taking it lightly, we're not going to rubber stamp it, we're not going to rush through it," said Hilderbrand.
All three candidates say one key issue that they want to hone in on is transparency and more communication with the community that they serve.
A total of 21 applicants for the job were narrowed down to four finalists, three of whom are local, Jasper Mayor Anderson Land told 12News previously.
One finalist, who is not a Jasper resident withdrew their name leaving three local finalists.
The city's previous chief, Gerald Hall, retired in March 2024 after leading the department for nine years. He had worked for the department for 32 years.
Mike Poindexter has been serving as interim chief since Hall's retirement.
"We have three of the best candidates that we can have," Anderson told 12News. "I think that whichever one we pick, we can't go wrong."
Hilderbrand says city council members will call another special session ahead of the next council meeting on November 12th.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.