Chattanooga residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts in the search for the city's new police chief, according to a news release from the mayor's office.
Mayor Tim Kelly announced a timeline and series of community meetings to help identify the qualities needed in the next chief and take note of residents' top safety priorities. The mayor will use feedback from those meetings in the final selection of the next police chief in February.
Kelly is inviting all Chattanoogans to participate in a survey at cha.city/chiefsearch, where they can share what they think should be the priorities for the next chief of police. The survey includes the following four questions:
- What qualities are most important to you in our next police chief?
- What are the most important priorities for our next police chief?
- What are the most important public safety needs in your neighborhood?
- If you could ask one question in the interview process, what would you ask?
The online survey will be made available on the city's website and through its social media platforms, on NextDoor and through outreach to neighborhood associations and local media. Residents who lack access to the internet can call 311 and complete the survey by phone.
Residents who complete the survey will be invited to attend one of the virtual community input sessions via Zoom on one of the following dates:
- 1-2:30 p.m. Oct. 21.
- 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 28.
- 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 1.
The mayor's office and city council have engaged the Police Executive Research Forum, a research and policy organization with 30 years' experience helping local governments recruit qualified police chief candidates, in the search process.
The forum has assisted with more than 75 executive searches in the last ten years and has also coordinated several successful searches during the pandemic. The city previously contracted with the group for a police chief search in 2014, which resulted in the hire of Chief Fred Fletcher, the release states.
"This will be an equitable and public process, and I have directed my staff and our partners to ensure that we work alongside our neighbors in the spirit of transparency to find the best chief for Chattanooga," Kelly said in the release.
The national search process will be open to local applicants, including current police department personnel.
The city says it plans to work with the search team to assemble a candidate-review committee to ensure Chattanooga identifies candidates with a track record of innovation and community engagement with a commitment to civil rights and public safety. The search team will survey current department employees and engage employee representatives such as the Fraternal Order of Police, according to the release.
Toward the end of 2021, the mayor's office and the search team will score and rate applicants for the chief of police position. That committee will then review the top tiers of qualified candidates and recommend a roster for advancement to the interview process.
Afterwards, Kelly will announce an interview committee to assist in interviewing semi-finalists and finalists. Finalists will travel to Chattanooga to interview in person with the interview panel and Kelly. With input from the panel, Kelly will select the next chief of police to be appointed to the city council for confirmation.
- Compiled by Kim Sebring
Timeline
— Oct. 14: Chief selection process announced; community and neighborhood engagement begins. Team begins the process of reaching out to potential candidates nationwide.— Late October: Team surveys existing Chattanooga Police Department employees on job satisfaction and priorities.— Nov. 5: Community and neighborhood engagement process concludes.— Nov. 8: Team reviews and analyzes data from community engagement.— Nov. 12: Based upon aggregated community feedback, candidate profiles and job posting finalized.— Nov. 15: Position announcement posted and advertised nationally for 30 days.— December/January: Application period closes and internal committee reviews candidate pool; field narrowed to candidate pool of semi-finalists and finalists.— Late January: Semi-finalist interviews.— February: Finalists meet with Mayor Tim Kelly and community interview panel. Extensive background check conducted on finalists.— End of February: Kelly announces selection of new police chief for confirmation by the city council.