By Arsema Habte, Contributing Writer
Council District 4 includes the following zip codes: 92102, 92105, 92113, 92114, 92115, and 92139. A community forum was held at the Fourth District Seniors Resource Center on January 30th.
David Nisleit, the current San Diego Police Chief, is set to retire in June 2024, which will result in a vacancy for the position. Panel interviews for the new San Diego Police Chief will begin on Monday, February 5th, according to Stacey Stevenson, Senior Executive Recruiter of Bob Murray & Associates.
At the forum, held last Tuesday, January 30th, it was mentioned by Stevenson that the previous recruitment process for police chief only considered three Council District Communities. However, the current recruitment process is inclusive of all nine Council Districts. Mayor Todd Gloria has dedicated these forums to be transparent and accessible for the community, which has led to this more inclusive approach.
Community members were asked to complete a survey to discuss and choose the characteristics, qualities, interactive and engaging considerations, as well as important priorities that the next Chief of Police should focus on within the department and community.
The deadline to complete the survey is January 31st at midnight. It is available online on the San Diego government website. Attendees of the forum requested that the survey results be made public. Stevenson mentioned that they are working on the process of making that happen.
In the midst of discussions, community members questioned if the decision to hire the next Police Chief was internal or external.
Stevenson responded, “Some want internal, and some want external. It will be one or the other.”
District 4 resident Christopher Kennison, a Civic Engagement Organizer at Alliance San Diego, emphasized the importance of having a Chief who is accountable and transparent.
Stating the forum’s purpose did not help its goals. The survey had vague questions and lacked specific concerns. Additionally, there was insufficient advertisement of the new Chief resulting in a low turnout of community support and engagement.
Members inquired about holding a forum to review the Police Chief’s performance and practice accountability. Stevenson dismissed the question as rhetorical, providing no answer at this time.
Stevenson only addressed that the process of selecting the Chief of Police will involve panel interviews where community concerns will be discussed. The city council leaders of each district will present these concerns.
The second interview will be conducted by subject matter experts who will assess the technical skills of the candidates. The Mayor will make the final decision based on the results of the interviews. The San Diego government website contains a timeline of these events.
Visit https://www.sandiego.gov/ for details.
