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Looking for a new chief
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| Citizen file photo - Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Simmons is retiring and the city is looking for his successor. |
Police chief expected to be hired by fall; city has more than 40 applicants so far
By Cameron Macdonald - Citizen Staff Writer
If all goes according to plan, Elk Grove will have a new police chief this fall.
More than 40 applicants have lined up to be the future police chief of the Elk Grove police, city spokesperson Christine Brainerd said.
The city is looking for a man or woman to replace Police Chief Robert Simmons who is retiring. City Manager Laura Gill will have the final choice on who the new chief will be.
“The police chief is a critical role at City Hall and I look forward to the position being filled quickly,” she said.
The application deadline was July 3 and the city is currently finishing up the interview process. The applicants’ backgrounds will then be researched.
“This is a very important appointment for the city manager because of the impact to public safety in the community,” Simmons said. “While timing is important, getting the right fit for the department is also very important.”
Brainerd said that Simmons has met with the Los Gatos-based recruiter, Avery Associates to create the profile of the ideal candidate that the Elk Grove police are looking for.
Gary Brown, a former Monterey police chief and a consultant with Avery Associates, is helping the Elk Grove police with the recruitment process.
Simmons originally retired last spring but has continued working as police chief until his successor is hired.
“My job is to keep continuity in the department until the next chief is selected. I’ll be here as long as it takes,” Simmons said. “The transition should be transparent to the public. Public safety is our number one priority.”
The recruitment period began when the city lacked a full-time city manager and the process is to be completed now that Gill is onboard.
Many of the traits that city staff is looking for in the future police chief are based on ideas contributed from community members at a town hall meeting last April. Such qualities included being a good listener, having a proactive attitude toward crime prevention, and having a “CEO mentality.”
There are no plans for another public meeting about the police chief position, Brainerd said.
Assistant Police Chief Ed Kelly told the Citizen about his interest in the police chief position.
“That’s my desire,” he told the Citizen earlier this year. “I think that (Simmons) and I have pretty much worked in-line with each other so there wouldn’t be a whole lot of difference.”
When the possibility of Kelly being hired was mentioned at the April meeting about the police chief recruitment, Brown replied that he will still be fairly placed among all of the other applicants.
When seeking out applicants, the city and Avery Associates released a brochure that advertised Elk Grove as a diverse, family-friendly community of more than 140,000 residents.
Factoids such as the police force of 125 sworn officers and a $30 million police department budget were also noted.
Listed minimum qualifications included being at a current rank of captain or higher and having a bachelor’s degree. Character qualities such as being a mentor, being technologically oriented, being “politically astute yet apolitical,” having a sense of humor and not being a “micromanager” were also listed in the brochure.
The advertised police chief’s salary ranged from $119,000 to $178,000.
“The police chief should be community-oriented, a straight shooter and a strong leader,” Gill said.
More than 40 applicants have lined up to be the future police chief of the Elk Grove police, city spokesperson Christine Brainerd said.
The city is looking for a man or woman to replace Police Chief Robert Simmons who is retiring. City Manager Laura Gill will have the final choice on who the new chief will be.
“The police chief is a critical role at City Hall and I look forward to the position being filled quickly,” she said.
The application deadline was July 3 and the city is currently finishing up the interview process. The applicants’ backgrounds will then be researched.
“This is a very important appointment for the city manager because of the impact to public safety in the community,” Simmons said. “While timing is important, getting the right fit for the department is also very important.”
Brainerd said that Simmons has met with the Los Gatos-based recruiter, Avery Associates to create the profile of the ideal candidate that the Elk Grove police are looking for.
Gary Brown, a former Monterey police chief and a consultant with Avery Associates, is helping the Elk Grove police with the recruitment process.
Simmons originally retired last spring but has continued working as police chief until his successor is hired.
“My job is to keep continuity in the department until the next chief is selected. I’ll be here as long as it takes,” Simmons said. “The transition should be transparent to the public. Public safety is our number one priority.”
The recruitment period began when the city lacked a full-time city manager and the process is to be completed now that Gill is onboard.
Many of the traits that city staff is looking for in the future police chief are based on ideas contributed from community members at a town hall meeting last April. Such qualities included being a good listener, having a proactive attitude toward crime prevention, and having a “CEO mentality.”
There are no plans for another public meeting about the police chief position, Brainerd said.
Assistant Police Chief Ed Kelly told the Citizen about his interest in the police chief position.
“That’s my desire,” he told the Citizen earlier this year. “I think that (Simmons) and I have pretty much worked in-line with each other so there wouldn’t be a whole lot of difference.”
When the possibility of Kelly being hired was mentioned at the April meeting about the police chief recruitment, Brown replied that he will still be fairly placed among all of the other applicants.
When seeking out applicants, the city and Avery Associates released a brochure that advertised Elk Grove as a diverse, family-friendly community of more than 140,000 residents.
Factoids such as the police force of 125 sworn officers and a $30 million police department budget were also noted.
Listed minimum qualifications included being at a current rank of captain or higher and having a bachelor’s degree. Character qualities such as being a mentor, being technologically oriented, being “politically astute yet apolitical,” having a sense of humor and not being a “micromanager” were also listed in the brochure.
The advertised police chief’s salary ranged from $119,000 to $178,000.
“The police chief should be community-oriented, a straight shooter and a strong leader,” Gill said.
Mary Ann wrote on Aug 1, 2008 9:36 AM: