Six candidates have applied for the position of Blytheville Police Chief including John Frazier, Bobby Ephlin, Charles Middlebrook, Jason Simpkins, Robin Angel and Russell Gray.
Chief Ross Thompson’s last day will be Feb. 29. Mayor  Melisa Logan has said she plans to accept applications up to Feb. 15.
Among those who have applied is Blytheville Assistant Chief Johnathon Frazier. He has been a member of the BPD since June 2003. Prior to that time, Frazier served in the U.S. Air Force, serving the military police from 1997-2001.
Also applying for the job is Lt. Robert Ephlin who currently serves as head of the Criminal Investigations Devision of the BPD. He 2013, Ephlin was named the special agent in charge of the Second Judicial Drug Task Force and in 2015 began serving as a task force officer with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Charles Middlebrook has also submitted an application for the chief’s job. A Blytheville native, Middlebrook has 20 years experience in law enforcement. Middlebrook has worked for the City of Dyersburg, the Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Department, and the BPD as a police officer and detective.
Lt. Jason Simpkins, a detective with the Blytheville Police Department, has also applied for the police chief position. He is a 23-year police veteran. He grew up in Blytheville, graduated from Blytheville High School and followed his father’s footsteps. His father retired from the BPD in 2000 after 26 years of service.