Search for new public safety director begins

By Kevin Elliott

Bloomfield Hills City Commissioners on Tuesday, September 13, unanimously approved contracting with the Michigan Municipal League (MML) to conduct an executive search to help find a replacement for Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Director Noel Clason, who will be retiring at the end of 2022.

Bloomfield Hills City Manager David Hendrickson said while the city has promoted leadership positions from within the department, it has consistently conducted executive searches to ensure all qualified candidates are considered. Internal candidates who meet the requirements for the position are encouraged to apply.

“The commission wants to offer the position and see who is interested, and if someone from public safety has the qualifications, they may apply,” said Hendrickson, who previously served as the city’s director of public safety. “They did the same for me when I applied for city manager. They knew who I was, but felt I needed to go through the process.”

Hendrickson said the Michigan Municipal League’s search will take about 120 days, with Clason retiring at the end of this year.

Clason joined the Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Department in 1998, and has held the rank of public safety officer, sergeant, lieutenant and detective/lieutenant prior to becoming director. He previously worked with the Clarkston Police Department, Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office and Center Line Public Safety Department. He also is a paid-on call firefighter for Fenton Township and North Oakland Fire Authority. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of the Michigan State University School of Staff and Command.