Port Royal is looking for a new police chief and more than 35 want the job

Port Royal is looking for a new chief of police after being notified by Alan Beach that he plans to retire this fall after a 37-year career with the department including the last 12 years as chief.

The search comes as the town grapples with population-fueled development that’s pressuring town services including police.

The town has received 35 applications for the chief’s position from internal, local and out of state candidates, Town Manager Van Willis said, adding, “We have some really, really, really good candidates.”

The deadline to apply was Tuesday.

Beach began discussions with town staff about retiring a few months ago, Assistant Town Manager Brooke Plank-Buccola said. His last day on the job will be Sept. 6, she said. The first round of interviews with top applicants will be conducted in early August.

Beach’s public safety career started as a Beaufort firefighter in 1985. He joined the Port Royal Police Department in 1987. H e was hired as chief in 2012 following the death of long-time chief James Cadien.

Over the years, the chief has watched as the community grew, with its population soaring past 14,000 residents by the 2020 census.

Earlier this year, at a Town Council retreat to discuss problems facing the community, Beach talked about how population growth is challenging his officers and investigators and recommended adding police substations across the town and dividing the town into zones and assigning officers to work those beats. “It’s more community oriented policing,” Beach said.