By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
LANDIS ó After a three-month search, the Landis Police Department has named a new chief.
Brian McCoy, who is an officer with the Spencer Police Department and formerly worked for the Statesville Police Department, will be sworn into office Monday.
McCoy officially starts as Landis police chief Feb. 1.
The Board of Aldermen began advertising for the position following the October retirement of former Chief Reggie Faggart.
The board received 15 applications, said Town Administrator Reed Linn.
In that time, the board asked the Centralina Council of Governments to establish an assessment center for the application process.
The town board looked at all 15 applicants, then narrowed the list to nine. All of the remaining candidates were interviewed Jan. 5 and 6 at the assessment center at Trinity Lutheran Church.
One of the nine withdrew, Linn said.
“They received applications from as far away as Columbia, S.C.,” he said.
After the assessment was complete, the Council of Governments reviewed the results with town staff and briefed the board on their findings.
The board chose two candidates for one-on-one interviews.
Board members conducted the interviews Jan. 17 during a closed-door session.
Each candidate answered a set of basic questions and supplemental questions from the board.
Linn said McCoy is fluent in three languages.
That, among other things, led the board to choose McCoy.
“He has a very diverse background. He’s going to be a tremendous asset to the town. We are very much looking forward to his leadership style,” Linn said.
One requirement added to the advertising was the need for an applicant to have a college degree.
“They put that out there to get the best possible candidates. It’s something the town looked at this year,” Linn said.
McCoy worked for about 15 years with Statesville and has been with Spencer for six months.
Spencer Chief Robert Bennett said he hated to lose the officer.
“He’s an excellent officer. I think he’ll make an excellent chief,” Bennett said.
McCoy, who is originally from Iredell County, has traveled throughout Central America and is fluent in Spanish.