Local Officers Favored in Hunt for Police Chief

City Manager John Lockwood announced Thursday that he prefers to appoint a new chief of police from within the top command of the San Diego Police Department but will invite applications from about half a dozen chiefs of large forces around the country.

In revealing his technique for selecting a successor to recently retired Chief Bill Kolender, the city manager said he hopes to submit a name for City Council confirmation within 60 to 90 days.

“My preference is to appoint within,” Lockwood said. “I think we’ve got a good Police Department. It doesn’t need to be restructured. Everything needs to be fine-tuned from time to time, and nothing’s perfect.

“But it’s a good department. It’s got good people in it. And that will be my inclination,” he said.

Credibility a Criterion

Lockwood said he is seeking a new chief whose credibility will be acceptable to several “major constituent groups,” including the public, the Police Officers Assn., community-based organizations and the council.

“I’m looking for somebody with considerable experience in law enforcement in a major police agency,” he said. “It’s a difficult position. So I’m looking for somebody with a thick skin and who is also bright and energetic.”

Kolender retired earlier this month after 13 years as chief to take a management job with the Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Assistant Chief Bob Burgreen has been serving as acting chief.

Burgreen, the four deputy chiefs and the police commanders met with Lockwood for about 30 minutes Thursday afternoon at police headquarters. During the session, the city manager explained the selection process and invited Burgreen and the deputy chiefs to apply for the job.

He said he wants a pledge from each candidate that, if selected, he would not retire before serving at least five years as chief. At that point, Lockwood said, Deputy Chief Don Davis, 56, told him he is not willing to make that commitment and eliminated himself as a candidate.

That leaves as candidates Deputy Chiefs Norm Stamper, Manny Guaderrama and Mike Rice, along with Burgreen.

Campaigning Forbidden

Lockwood said he told the candidates that he didn’t want to see any active campaigning for the job by soliciting public support. He said he also informed the department hierarchy of his plans to look at top police officials from other cities.

He said he will identify police officials from about 2 dozen cities with populations of more than 250,000 that also operate under the council-manager form of government similar to San Diego. Further, he will seek candidates from the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police and advice from the International City Management Assn. and the League of Cities.

He expects about half a dozen serious candidates to come from among the 2 dozen cities that will be contacted.

“I will then invite those chiefs who are interested or come recommended to sit down and chat about the job,” Lockwood said. “But I’m not talking about a national search. I’m not talking about advertising to the nation. It will be by invitation only.”

Under the City Charter, the city manager nominates the chief. The council’s Public Services and Safety Committee then must hold at least one public hearing to seek comment on the nominee. The committee then makes a recommendation to the full council, which votes on confirmation.

Lockwood said he has had no pressure from the mayor or council members in the selection process.

No Council Interference

“Not one member of the City Council has mentioned one name to me, and I appreciate that very much,” he said. “There’s been absolutely no interference at all.”

Mayor Maureen O’Connor said Thursday that Lockwood’s selection method is appropriate because it encompasses candidates both in San Diego and around the nation.

“I totally agree with that,” she said. “He should look everywhere and pick the best chief possible for the city.”

Then, she said, if Lockwood nominates a local candidate, “everybody will know that he has picked the best candidate in the country.”

However, Councilman Ed Struiksma said the chief should definitely be from San Diego.

“The selection should come within the Police Department,” he said. “There are ample qualified applicants here.”

‘A List of Concerns’

Lockwood said he will seek advice from Kolender; community groups; the POA; and the Rev. George Walker Smith and Murray Galinson, the leaders of two civilian advisory panels. Rather than seeking recommendations on individual candidates, Lockwood said, he will want to hear from them “a list of concerns” about what kind of chief is needed.

But he made it clear that the local candidates have “a leg up” in the selection. And he said each of them, including Assistant Chief Burgreen, whom Lockwood referred to as “Bobby,” has an equal shot at the job.

“When it comes to promotional opportunities, everybody’s in the hunt,” he said. “There are no heir apparents.”

He said a reprimand Burgreen received from the city manager in a ticket-fixing scandal two years ago will not adversely affect his prospects for being named chief.

“Everything you do in life has some impact, I guess, on a candidacy,” Lockwood said. “But that, to my mind, was not an infraction that was serious to the point of seriously affecting his candidacy at all.”

Burgreen, 49, in an interview after the meeting with Lockwood, said he feels that he is qualified for the job.

“I think I have a combination of qualities,” he said, “particularly my 10 1/2 years as assistant chief in charge of the day-to-day operations of the department.”

Burgreen also said that he will not feel insulted if one of his subordinates is chosen.

“You’re not going to hear any sour grapes out of me,” he said. “I think Mr. Lockwood has put forth a good selection process, one that stands to get us a good chief. And, whatever he does, I’m going to support it.”

‘I Know the Job Well’

Guaderrama, 51, said he would bring some key talent to the chief’s job, including three college degrees and his 27 years with the department, including assignments in “almost every area of the department.”

“I’ve worked very closely with the community over a long, sustained period of time,” he said. “I know the job well.”

Stamper, 44, said he believes he has a “very clear picture of how policing ought to be, both today and in the years ahead.”

“I think anybody who wants this job has to care deeply about the people of San Diego as well as the officers and other employees of this organization,” Stamper said. “I think credibility and experience and wisdom are all prerequisites to effective leadership.”

Rice, 50, could not be reached for comment.