SIMI VALLEY : Field of Police Chief Candidates Cut to 4

A special search panel interviewed 10 candidates Friday for the job of Simi Valley police chief, narrowing the field to four men who will be considered to replace Chief Lindsey Paul Miller when he retires Feb. 11.

Assistant City Manager Mike Sedell declined to identify any of the candidates, saying only that they included people from inside and outside the 109-officer department.

Each candidate underwent 40-minute interviews by a panel made up of a police chief and city manager from outside Simi Valley, a schools official, and a representative of the city’s business community, Sedell said. The panelists’ identities are being kept secret so they cannot be pressured by city residents or anyone else with an interest in the outcome, Sedell said.

Police union President Sgt. Gary Collins was allowed to sit in on the interviews as an observer and will offer concerns and recommendations next week to City Manager Lin Koester, Sedell said.

The four finalists chosen Friday will be notified Monday that they are to return for another round of interviews, Sedell said.

Koester, Mayor Greg Stratton and Mayor Pro Tem Judy Mikels plan to interview the four Friday, and Koester will make the final decision on who becomes the new chief, he said.

“All of those 10 that were interviewed today had very strong command experience as sworn law enforcement officers,” Sedell said. “And we believe that the four the oral board have referred for further interviews are truly well-qualified candidates for the position of police chief.”

The city first advertised the post in November, shortly after Miller announced he would be ending his 32-year police career, which included 12 years as Simi Valley chief.

The city manager’s office received 51 applications for the job, Sedell said.