The Town of Marion will first look in-house for a new police chief.

Marion Police Chief Lincoln Miller will retire at the end of this year.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson and the selectmen were considering casting a wider net in the search for Miller's replacement -- perhaps even looking nationwide -- and while that approach may yet come to pass, the leaders have decided to first see what talent is available on the existing force.

"We should be mindful of continuity of leadership [in Marion]," Dawson recently todl the selectmen "Prior to doing a large-scale search, it might be a good idea to explore the possibility of looking inside the current police department."

Board members agreed.

“We did do a nationwide search when we hired [Miller],” Selectman Jody Dickerson noted. “He was promoted from within. This is a good opportunity to kick the tires and see what we have in the department already.”

Dawson recommended that the town look at current sergeants and lieutenants and request that interested candidates submit a letter of interest and a resume.

Miller, a Marion native, was a 17-year veteran of the department when he was tapped to become the police chief. He replaced Brian Scott, who retired in 2000 after 21 years as police chief.

“We’ve been fortunate to have longstanding chiefs,” Dickerson pointed out. “It says something about Marion.”