City of Norfolk receives public comment on next police chief

NORFOLK, Va. – The City of Norfolk is receiving public feedback from residents on the next police chief. City Manager Chip Filer said the meeting was to determine the attributes and qualities residents look for in a police chief.

It comes after the city announced that several such town hall meetings would take place following the sudden resignation of former police chief Larry Boone.

While City Manager Chip Filer says the city isn’t excluding internal candidates, he hired Morris and McDaniel Management Consultants in Alexandria to expand the pool of candidates and help with the nationwide search.

One of the biggest questions tonight is whether the new police chief will come from within or from another city or state. A resident shared her concerns.

“I don’t think we should get out of the zone. I think Chief Boone has been effective because he’s come through the ranks. You bring in someone from the outside, they’re going to spend the first two years trying to get to know each other people,” one resident said.

City Manager Chip Filer says he’s received mixed reviews for it.

“How do we feel about an outside chief versus someone who could be in the department and promote internally. That’s been one of the more contentious areas,” Filer told News 3’s Leondra Head.

Some residents want to see more crime prevention.

“The challenge is that we have an increase in crime in our city. Personally, someone came into our backyard and tried to open our backdoor,” said a Norfolk resident.

Whoever gets the job will face 249 vacancies in the Norfolk Police Department.

“We heard loud and clear about a new leader who will motivate and improve morale, ensure we recruit and retain the best officers possible,” Filer said.

The nomination for a new chief of police will be open for 30 days. Filer says he and the search firm will narrow it down to about eight candidates. Then hold second-round interviews and narrow it down to about three candidates.

“What I’m looking for is a police chief who can be aggressive, tough, strategic. I need someone who can really resonate with the community,” Filer said.

Filer says that over the past six weeks he has met with civic leagues, the police union and religious leaders to also get their input on what they want to see in the next police chief.

News 3 reporter Penny Kmitt spoke to people who live and work in Norfolk ahead of the forum. Some community members say they are looking for a leader similar to Boone, while others say they are hoping for something different.

“I think any police chief who has integrity, who loves this city and who has the resources of the city council and the support of the city council can be successful,” said Norfolk resident Perez Gatling.

Abbey Hayes, who works in Norfolk city centre, the site of several recent cases of gun violence, says she is looking for a leader who fixes the violence at its heart.

“We have to solve the problem from within,” she said. “So implementing programs in schools, raising awareness and not being afraid to go out into those communities and serve.”

City Manager Filer says the public forum will help Morris and McDaniel Management Consultants write an accurate job description for the role that reflects community concerns.

If you can’t attend Tuesday’s public forum but would like to comment on Norfolk’s future Chief of Police, You can do it here.

The city expects to have a final decision by early December.