2 Top Cops Here Are Up for Job as Dallas Chief

An assistant police chief and a deputy police chief from the San Diego Police Department are two of 13 semi-finalists for the job of Dallas police chief.

The city of Dallas released the list Friday, which includes Assistant Chief Norm Stamper and Deputy Chief Manuel Guaderrama.

Stamper, 46, is second in command to Police Chief Bob Burgreen and runs the day-to-day operations of the 1,850-member department. Guaderrama, 51, is a deputy chief in charge of field operations, which includes all traffic and patrol officers and the department’s SWAT team.

The Dallas police chief’s job came open in September, when the city manager fired Chief Mack Vines after a grand jury indicted him on a misdemeanor perjury charge. Vines is accused of lying to a special panel that reviewed the 1989 firing of a Dallas police officer.

Neither San Diego officer could be reached for comment, but Burgreen said Friday night that he was aware that both had applied.

“I’ve talked to both and encouraged them to apply,” he said. “I’m very proud of the fact that the quality of our people is such that other cities would seek them out as candidates for police chief.”

Burgreen said both Stamper and Guaderrama have turned down such jobs in other cities.

Dallas City Manager Jan Hart is expected to narrow the list to five before the end of the year, and a final selection is expected early next year.