Marion picks canine officer as new police chief
Staff writer
A familiar face in county law enforcement was promoted Monday to chief of the Marion Police Department.
Aaron Slater, a canine officer for Marion Police Department since November, 2023, has worked nine years in Marion County law enforcement.
Before working for Marion, he was a canine officer for the sheriff’s office from November, 2022 to November, 2023.
Before that, Slater was a Marion canine officer from October, 2018 to November, 2022.
He was a deputy sheriff from November, 2017 to October, 2018, and a Peabody police officer from August, 2016 to November, 2017.
Before working full-time, he spent two years as a reserve officer for Hillsboro while he attended Tabor College.
Slater said Tuesday that he wanted to help regain public trust for the department and be transparent.
He also said he wants the department to become involved in activities that improve life for the community and its children.
“I want to eventually be able to provide school supplies to kids returning to school,” he said, “maybe a toy collection during the Christmas season. My biggest thing is to try to help children. I know there are adults who need help, too, but my biggest thing is children.”
The department has two bicycles donated by Barkman Honey and is looking for kids who need them, he said.
City Council members voted unanimously to confirm Slater’s nomination by Mayor Mike Powers. The vote came after a 20-minute executive session.
Slater took office immediately at a salary of $65,000 a year.
Powers said candidates for the position were interviewed by a panel of five people — Powers, council member Amy Smith, administrator Bryan Wells, school administrator Kelsey Metro, and Democratic Party chairman and lawyer David Yoder.
Retired Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning was expected to take part in the interviews, but health problems kept him from doing so, Powers said.
After appointing Slater, Powers and councilman Zach Collett thanked Zach Hudlin for serving as interim chief for nearly two years since the resignation of Gideon Cody, who led a raid Aug. 11, 2023, on the Record and the homes of its owners and then-vice mayor Ruth Herbel.
In other business Monday, council members reviewed six properties listed as unsafe.
The properties were houses and garages at 120 Santa Fe St. owned by Scott Fisher; the former Country Lakes Café building at 202 E. Main St. owned by Walton State Bank; 314 S. Grant St. owned by Randall Bryant; 516 S. 3rd St. owned by Loretta Looney; 529 S. Roosevelt St. owned by Floyd and Laura Myers; and a shed at 1002 E. Nickerson St. owned by Leroy and Montana Danler.
Property inspector James Masters said Fisher’s house had a “really bad roof,” was missing foundation that could permit animal activity, and was too close to the property boundary to allow adequate setbacks.
Fisher said he wanted to repair the property and retain it, but if it was torn down, nothing could be built on the lot.
Council members agreed to let Fisher get a better idea of whether repairs could be made and return in September.
Council members voted to demolish the back portion of the former Country Lakes building, which has bulging walls on the verge of collapsing. They also voted to demolish a shed at 1002 E. Nickerson St.
They agreed to give Bryant time to repair 314 S. Grant St.
Powers set a hearing Oct. 8 on property at 529 S. Roosevelt St. so owners could make progress on restoration.