Local, trade publication ads seek good manager of people and resources
By TANYA EISERER, The Dallas Morning News and CHRIS HEINBAUGH, WFAA-TV
The city of Dallas is officially launching its search to replace fired Police Chief Terrell Bolton.
In advertisements soon to be placed locally and in trade publications, including Police Chief Magazine, Dallas is touted as a world-class city with a diverse population, forming the “heart of a large metropolitan area in north central Texas.”
“We hope to attract, first of all, someone who has extensive professional experience in police work, " said Assistant City Manager Charles Daniels, who oversees the city’s public safety departments, "... and someone who has experience in crime fighting because Dallas has the No. 1 crime rate” among cities with populations of more than 1 million.
“We’re looking for someone who can get that down,” he said.
Just as important is to hire someone who is a good manager of people and resources, Mr. Daniels said, because the chief will oversee an annual budget of about $290 million and supervise about 2,900 uniformed officers and more than 500 civilians.
“It’s one of the larger budgets in the city, and we need someone who’s going to not only manage people but look after the money as well,” Mr. Daniels said.
Whoever gets the job will face serious challenges, from dealing with the fallout of the fake-drugs scandal to lingering questions about the department’s hiring and recruiting practices. Mr. Daniels said the department’s recent troubles might make it more difficult to attract candidates.
“People read the papers and look at the TV, and they know that there have been some issues,” Mr. Daniels said. “But on the other hand, I think individuals who have the extensive experience would also see this as a challenge, to come in and try to calm things down and also to try to get that crime rate down.”
In early November, City Manager Ted Benavides selected Georgia-based Slavin Management Consultants out of a field of 12 competing firms to lead the city’s search for a police chief. The firm will vet applicants, but Mr. Benavides will choose the next chief. Mr. Bolton was fired in August.
Calling Dallas “a national model for effective professional management,” the advertisement explains the city manager form of government. While the City Council provides policy direction, the city manager directs the “day-to-day affairs.” The police chief serves at the pleasure of the city manager, not the City Council.
Consultant Robert Slavin has said hiring a police chief will be a unique challenge in Dallas because in most other major cities, the mayor chooses and supervises the chief.
According to the advertisement, a successful candidate should have a “proven record” of accomplishment. Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience in municipal law enforcement, including three years as a chief, assistant chief or deputy chief. City officials are hoping to hire someone with experience working for a large police department in a diverse community comparable to Dallas.
The ad does not mention Spanish-speaking skills for the city that’s seen a surge in its Hispanic population.
“It [speaking Spanish] would be nice, but not a major factor,” City Council member John Loza said. “I don’t care if they speak Erdu. I want the best person for the job. As long as they can work with the Hispanic community, that’s fine with me. They don’t have to speak Spanish.”
The original timeline for the search has been altered, and a new chief should be on the job by the first of May, instead of mid-May.
City Council member Gary Griffith said he wanted three things in a candidate: one with an excellent policing record that includes demonstrated leadership in an urban city; one who can command the respect of the men and women of the department and the residents of Dallas; and one with a “tough-on-crime approach who can make Dallas the safest big city in America.”