By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - His tenure as interim Niles Township police chief will be short lived.
Jeff Dunlap who is a 22-year department veteran, was named to the position just two weeks ago after the announcement of John Streets retirement.
At the Niles Township Board Meeting on Monday evening Dunlap was named as the township's new building inspector, taking over that position on June 17.
Dunlap will be replacing Jim Pheifer, who recently resigned to take a similar job in Lincoln Township.
Dunlap added that he is coming to the end of his law enforcement career and has always had other interests throughout this time.
Dunlap added considering the state of the department, it is a bit of bad timing that he is taking this new position, but it's a good opportunity for him.
With Dunlaps departure the township police department will be left with just two full-time officers and five part-time officers.
Niles Township voters will decide on Aug. 2, whether to approve a 2 mill proposal for the department. If the vote fails, the future of the department is questionable and is expected to disbanded and the policing services to be turned over to a different police department.