Mayor Flanigan is pleased to announce the appointments of Richard Bonine as Parks and Recreation Director and Chad Dininger as Chief of Police for the City of Carthage. Both appointments were discussed and approved during a closed session of the City Council on Tuesday, September 9.
The appointment of the Parks and Recreation Director followed a comprehensive selection process led by the Parks and Recreation Director Hiring Committee, which included City Administrator Traci Cox, Councilwoman Jana Schramm, Councilman Alan Snow, Vision Carthage Co-Director Sally Stuart, Retiree Jimmy Grimes, Human Resources Director Michael Miller, and Mayor Flanigan. The committee reviewed more than 50 applications from across the nation and conducted interviews with candidates representing multiple states.
The committee unanimously selected Richard W. Bonine, who brings more than 15 years of experience in parks and recreation management to his new role as Parks and Recreation Director. He has led departments in Oregon, Washington, and Oklahoma, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, dozens of parks and facilities, and large teams of staff and volunteers. Bonine has owned and operated businesses in event management and hospitality, giving him a unique perspective on community engagement and program development. Bonine holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Oklahoma State University.
The Police Chief appointment also follows an extensive selection process by the Police Chief Hiring Committee. The Committee consisted of City Administrator Traci Cox, Councilman Alan Snow, Councilman David Thorn, Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser, retired Jasper County Judge Steve Carlton, former Carthage City Councilman Juan Topete, Human Resources Director Michael Miller and Mayor Flanigan. The committee unanimously agreed upon Chad Dininger after reviewing more than 30 applicants from across the nation and conducting interviews with candidates from New York, New Hampshire, Arkansas, and Missouri.
A native of Carthage and a graduate of Carthage High School, Chad Dininger brings an impressive 29 years of law enforcement experience. He has been serving as Assistant Chief of Police/Captain of Carthage Police Department since July 2022. Mr. Dininger began his law enforcement career with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. He subsequently served 20 years with the Joplin Police Department before joining the Carthage Police Department in 2017. Captain Dininger has demonstrated a strong commitment to integrity and a community-oriented approach to policing, making him an ideal leader for the City of Carthage. Chief Bill Hawkins will continue to serve as a Chief until his retirement later this year.
“A heartfelt thank you goes to the members of the hiring committees,” said Mayor Flanigan. “Their collective qualifications, experiences, and knowledge of our city were invaluable in reaching tremendous and unanimous recommendations.”