Burgreen Waits to Hear on Police Chief Jobs Here, in Arkansas

The next seven days will be telling for Bob Burgreen.

The acting San Diego police chief is considered the favorite to be nominated next week as the permanent replacement to longtime chief Bill Kolender.

He is also one of six finalists vying to become police chief in Little Rock, Ark., and city officials there hope to name their man next week as well.

Burgreen declined to comment about the situation, referring all questions to his spokesman, Cmdr. Keith Enerson.

No Offers Yet

“He has not received an offer of either job yet,” Enerson said Thursday, “so he’s not going to speculate on what may or may not happen.”

The San Diego City Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday in a public hearing to set the kind of criteria the council wants in a new police chief. Then, on Wednesday, City Manager John Lockwood plans to announce his nominee for the post, vacated this summer when Kolender retired to take a job with the Union-Tribune.

Officials in Little Rock are also on the fast track.

Britt Rice, the city’s director of personnel, said Burgreen and five other out-of-state finalists are scheduled to arrive in Little Rock on Sunday.

The candidates are to be interviewed by the city manager and Civil Service Commission on Monday and Tuesday, and will attend a banquet and press conference as well, said Pat James, Little Rock’s employment services manager.

“Hopefully a decision will be made very, very shortly,” Rice said. “Hopefully as early as Wednesday or Thursday.”

She added that the selection by the Civil Service Commission is not subject to approval by the city’s Board of Directors. Lockwood’s nomination, however, must be approved by the San Diego City Council. A council confirmation hearing is set for Sept. 19.

Timing a Coincidence

James, who reviewed Burgreen’s resume, said he is definitely a strong candidate in Little Rock.

“Actually,” she said, “all six of our finalists look very good in terms of education and years of experience. We’re very pleased with the prospects we have.”

Enerson said it is a coincidence that both job prospects are open at the same time for Burgreen.

He said that at about the same time Kolender announced his retirement, Burgreen was contacted by a Washington search firm and recruited to apply for the Little Rock position. He said Burgreen has several relatives and friends in the Arkansas area and that he has in the past spoken of eventually retiring to that part of the country.

However, “this isn’t any pressure play or anything like that,” Enerson said. “He’s kept Lockwood informed of this since the day the search firm contacted him.”

Asked which job Burgreen would prefer, Enerson said: “I have no idea. I don’t think he’s shared that with anyone.”