By Ginger D. Richardson, The Arizona Republic
Phoenix officials formally named interim Police Chief Jack Harris as their new top cop Friday morning, bringing anti-climatic end to a months-long search for a replacement for former Chief Harold Hurtt.
Harris had been serving in the acting chief’s role since Hurtt left in March, and had long been considered a favorite for the permanent post. But city officials said they wanted to make sure there was no one who was better qualified for the job and conducted a national recruitment for the position.
“We are going to do our very best to pick the best chief for Phoenix,” City Manager Frank Fairbanks said earlier this week. “In the end, I think the community will be very happy.”
In naming Harris to the position, city officials passed over two other internal candidates - Assistant Chiefs Silverio Ontiveros and John Buchanan -a retired Phoenix assistant chief, David Brewster, and two external candidates, former Dallas Chief Terrell Bolton and assistant Miami Chief Louis Vega.
All six men had interviewed last week with three separate panels of community and business leaders.