With the hiring of Randy Carlson of Granger, Wash., Myrtle Point City Manager Bud Schmidt thought he was done with the search for a new police chief.

He was wrong.

Carlson was scheduled to start his new job this Friday, but he notified Schmidt on Aug. 25 that he did not want the city's police chief position.

"He came here for a couple of days and talked to some of the locals," Schmidt said, "and then he went home. I guess he thought it over."

Schmidt said he is examining the city's options, including talking to the other top candidates and possibly starting the process again.

The most immediate problem is finding another interim police chief. Tom Benz, who retired from the Oregon State Police, believed he would be relieved by now and has made other plans, Schmidt said.

"We don't want to rush this decision because we're not desperate," he added. "Myrtle Point is a good town and we want to make the right decision. We are going to take enough time to make sure we do that."