FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks City Council is set to vote on whether the mayor’s new recommendation for police chief should be able to have the job.
Mayor Jim Matherly decided Friday to nominate Deputy Chief Eric Jewkes to lead the city’s police department. The council will vote to confirm or reject the recommendation Monday, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
The city is looking to fill the vacancy left by Chief Randall Aragon, who resigned at the end of October. Aragon’s decision to step down came after he was placed on administrative leave. Former police Chief Dan Hoffman had asked the City Council to investigate Aragon after he claimed to have received a report from a business owner of “unethical activity” by Aragon.
The council had urged former mayor John Eberhart to launch an independent investigation into the matter. Matherly said he has received an email saying the investigation would be completed “soon.”
Matherly chose Jewkes to fill the position over acting police Chief Brad Johnson and other candidates following an interview process.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision — extremely difficult — both candidates were top notch,” Matherly said. “I just felt that Eric had the qualities I was looking for in a police chief. His consistency, demeanor, he has the support of the department and many from the community who have reached out to me.”
Matherly added that “Brad is an excellent police officer and serves Fairbanks with great honor.”
Jewkes has worked for the Fairbanks Police Department for more than 20 years. His assignments have included downtown foot patrol, K-9 supervisor, bike patrol and tactical police team member.
