Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine is in the running for the same position in a St. Louis, Mo. suburb.

The Columbia, Mo., native was in St. Charles two weeks ago for an interview but emphasized no job offer has been made. He said he currently has family in the Jefferson City and St. Louis areas. St. Charles is roughly 25 miles northwest of St. Louis and two hours from Jefferson City.

“Both [Iowa City and St. Charles] are geographically similar. The populations are very similar, both have a river running through it,” Hargadine said. “There are many commonalities between the two cities.”

Beginning his career at the age of 18, Hargadine has spent 30 years in police work, 20 of which were with Columbia police before retiring as captain. He called his August 2005 move to Iowa City a perfect opportunity that came along at the time. His current annual salary is $139,610.

“This is another opportunity that may or may not occur,” Hargadine said about the position in St. Charles. “I have not applied anywhere else prior to this.”

According to the St. Charles Patch, Hargadine is one of the three remaining candidates. The St. Charles interim Police Chief Lawrence Stulce and Bloomington, Ill., Police Chief Randall McKinley are also vying for the position. More than 45 people applied for the job, which was vacated in April.

St. Charles police officials did not immediately return phone messages Monday evening.

Hargadine’s career in Iowa City has reached beyond the city’s limits, including assisting Cedar Rapids and Burlington in their police-chief searches. If he decides to leave Iowa City, he said, he will miss the people who make up the police force the most.

“The officers here are incredible,” he said. “If I could take all 80 of them with me, I would.”

— by Quentin Misiag