The city of Bellevue is looking for a new chief law enforcement officer, following a decision by Marshal Bryan Carpita to step down last week.
Carpita—working under a city contract for services with the Blaine County Sheriff's Office—served as Bellevue marshal for about a year and a half. He will remain in the Sheriff's Office as a lieutenant.
"It was not an easy decision for me," Carpita said last Thursday at a Bellevue City Council meeting. "I do still take a lot of pride in what we've done down here and [what we] will continue to do down here."
Carpita was joined at the meeting by Blaine County Sheriff Gene Ramsey, who until recently served on the council. Ramsey said an internal testing and interview process had already begun at the Sheriff's Office to replace Carpita. He invited council members to participate in the interview process to locate a new marshal.
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"There will be several qualified applicants from our sergeants and detectives," Ramsey said.
Mayor Chris Koch and Councilman Larry Plott accepted an invitation to participate in the interview process.
Koch and Councilwoman Barb Patterson expressed regret over losing Carpita after less than two years.
"I was hoping to grow old with this guy," Koch said.
Carpita is making a lateral move with the Sheriff's Office and will not receive a pay hike at his new position. He said he sought the new position based on personal challenges and goals. He will remain in charge of officers working in the city of Bellevue, and said he will work closely with the new marshal until he or she is trained, which could take until October.
"You're not done with me yet," he said.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
