The former police chief with a doctorate in mental health counseling, having shown his versatility in performing a variety of governmental administrative duties, is preparing to take on a new challenge.
Wayne Handley, interim Buena Vista city manager and recently retired police chief for the city, is continuing what has been a somewhat unusual career trajectory. He is to become the next superintendent of the Rockbridge Regional Jail. He is to succeed Derek Almarode, who has held the post the past nine years and is retiring this summer. Handley said Tuesday he is to begin his new job in August.
He explained that this job opportunity came about when, upon learning about Almarode’s plans to retire, it occurred to Handley that he himself was “uniquely suited” for the role, with his varied background in law enforcement, government administration and mental health counseling studies.
He made inquiries, applied for the position, was offered the job and accepted it. This all transpired quickly while he was performing his tasks as interim city manager. The process of conducting a search for Buena Vista’s next city manager has dovetailed nicely with the timetable for beginning his new job.
Buena Vista has received 16 applications for the city manager’s job and preliminary interviews have been taking place. City Council is to go into closed session at its regular meeting tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss candidates. A special meeting is planned June 25 for the purpose of interviewing the most qualified candidates. The hope is that a new city manager will be hired in time to begin work in late July or early August.
Handley and his wife, Megan Zwisohn, had already planned to remain in the Rockbridge area following his retirement as police chief. Zwisohn, chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge County and Lexington, plans to retire a year from now, on July 1, 2027.
Handley said he still has plans to start his own business utilizing his expertise in mental health counseling; he just won’t be accepting clients for the foreseeable future. He said his wife, after she retires, may pursue her interest in being an advocate for children’s literacy.
