WEST BOUNTIFUL -- Members of the West Bountiful City Council got a chance to meet with and ask questions of the three finalists for the job of Police Chief Tuesday night. The trio, Lieutenants Ed Spann of Taylorsville, David Hansen from Riverdale and Randy Lloyd of West Valley, appeared together in council chambers. Seated on the front row, they were questioned in turn by each of the council members. Inquiries dealt with how each would handle various types of criminal activity, situations unique to West Bountiful, hazmat emergencies on the freeway or railway corridors and budgeting considerations. On the critical issue of budgeting, all three said they understood that building the department up to a level on par with those of similar adjacent cities might take a while.

"I'm not opposed to coming back and working with the department's budget, whatever that budget is," said Spann, "that's what you're here to do."

"Looking at West Bountiful reminds me of Riverdale 10 years ago," Hansen said. "We had nothing. I know how that goes and that it takes time."

"The community's business base is growing," said Lloyd, "but it's going to take a while. That's not a problem."

The three candidates were culled from a list of candidates by a special selection committee. Committee members included Terry Keefe, Layton Police Chief; Bud Cox, Davis County Sheriff; and John J. Griener, Chief of Police in Ogden working with council observer Jeff Tingey.

Following Tuesday night's question-and-answer session, members of the council elected not to name their top choice. Taking a cue from Debbie McKean, they decided they wanted a chance to consider the answers they had received.

The final selection could come as soon as council members' next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 4.

"Based on tonight's discussion," Mayor James Behunin said to the candidates, "my sense is that you are making it a very difficult decision for us."

bmickelson@davisclipper.com