The City of Long Beach has set up an online survey that asks what you’re looking for in a new Chief of Police. Click here to go to the website and take the survey.
The questions include some softballs such as ranking the importance of local issues – I’m going to assume that most surveyors selected “Most Important” for Violent Crime and Honesty/Integrity – but others are not as generic. For instance, do you think that the Chief should be results oriented? Focus on community policing? Have experience with financial management? Experience dealing with unions? What about being bilingual?
There are plenty of opportunities for you to voice your unique opinion.
No word on exactly how much influence these results will have on the independent firm, Alliance Resource Consulting, which is conducting candidate interviews and will make recommendations to City Manager Pat West. Earlier reports indicated that a new Chief may be selected as early as February.
The search for a new Chief was supposed to be open only to candidates currently with the LBPD or that had recent experience in the LBPD. In December, it was announced that the search would be opened to candidates outside of the department, which reportedly created tension among officers who felt the new Chief should be promoted from within.
Chief of Police Anthony Batts left his position last August, after seven years as Chief and 27 with the LBPD.
So, what are you looking for in a Police Chief?