Tim Colvin has been named interim chief of the Rayville Police Department following the recent resignation of Chief Markus Turner.
The appointment was made during the March 2 Rayville Town Council meeting after Turner stepped down to accept a position with the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Colvin said he had originally been on the council agenda that night to be confirmed as assistant chief when the situation changed.
“I was on the agenda to be officially confirmed as the assistant chief,” Colvin said. “So they did that and then appointed me to serve as chief until the election is held and a new chief is sworn in.”
The election for Rayville police chief will be held May 16, with the newly elected chief scheduled to be sworn in July 1.
Colvin said he does not plan to seek the position permanently because he does not live within the town limits.
“I’m just running the department until a new chief can be elected,” Colvin said. “I didn’t qualify to run for chief. I can’t. I don’t live in town.”
Colvin has served with the Rayville Police Department as chief investigator for eight years and has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including his time as working as a law enforcement agent with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
“I humbly accepted the position because I want to do what I can to help the department and the Town of Rayville,” he said.
Colvin said his focus in the coming months will be maintaining the level of service the department currently provides while also working to strengthen staffing.
“I’ve hired one new officer and I’m in the process of adding a second one,” Colvin said. “We definitely need them.”
