Eureka Springs is in the market for a new police chief.
Brian Young, who has been with the Eureka Springs Police Department since 2004 and has served as police chief since 2018, is stepping down, according to Eureka Springs Mayor Butch Berry.
Berry confirmed via email that Young’s last day will be Oct. 31.
A job description for police chief has been posted on the city’s website and on Indeed. com for at least the past week.
Applicants were asked to submit their resume, cover letter and contact information to the city’s human resource department by Wednesday, Oct. 11.
“We have not established a day for the replacement,” Berry wrote in the email. “Just as soon as possible.”
The news of Young’s departure as police chief comes a little more than two weeks after he was questioned by members of the city council regarding various purchases by his department.
The main questions centered around what was first described by a council member as a $13,000 “sniper rifle.” However, Young told council members that the rifle — used by an officer certified to use it and a member of a shared special response team — actually cost $3,075 and was purchased from Wilson Combat in Berryville.
“We have an obligation with this community to protect this community,” Young said during the Sept. 25 council meeting. “As part of that obligation as officers, we have to account for everything we do. So, if we fire a shot, whether it’s an animal, whether it’s putting a deer down or anything else, we have to account for that.”
Young was sworn in as police chief on Aug. 31, 2018, after the retirement of Thomas Achord. He joined the Eureka Springs Police Department in 2004 after spending several years with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
The listing for the position says applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a four-year college or university, nine to 10 years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience along with five years management experience.
Young did not return an email regarding his departure.
