City Delays Decision on Selection of Chief

City Council members again postponed deciding whether residents will be able to have a direct say in the hiring of the next police chief.

Councilman Michael Alvarez, who bitterly opposed the firing of former Chief John R. Robertson in February, had suggested last month that the city form a citizens advisory committee to help assess the candidates.

City Manager David L. Rudat warned at the time that the group might put a damper on recruitment because confidentiality can be important during the screening process.

Some candidates who hold jobs elsewhere might not want their employers to know they are looking for work in another city, he said.

He did suggest that residents call his office and recommend the qualities they want to see in a new chief.

At a council meeting Tuesday, Rudat said he was still working on a report but needed to contact other cities to see whether they had used such committees. The issue was rescheduled for Aug. 11.

Resident Mara Brandman, a Robertson supporter, gave the council the guidelines for a similar citizens committee used by the city of Spokane, Wash., to hire a new chief.

“I have to ask how long it takes for a report to be done and why don’t you want citizens involved in the process,” she said.