StarBulletin.com

Police chief search continues despite City Council's questions


By

POSTED: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

City Council members hope to get answers this morning about the search process for a new police chief, but it does not appear likely that the Police Commission will delay the selection of a new chief, scheduled for this afternoon.

The commission continued to interview the six finalists for the job yesterday. Commission Chairwoman Christine Camp did not return phone calls yesterday.

Council Public Safety Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz sent a letter to the commission yesterday asking commissioners to delay the selection and to appear before the Council this morning.

Dela Cruz held a hearing Monday on the controversy over the selection process after commissioners asked a selection committee to add two names to the list of finalists after the committee had already selected four.

Two selection committee members, Ron Taketa, a former Police Commission chairman, and William “;Buzzy”; Hong, a former police officer and Fire Commission chairman, resigned after the request was made to add the names.

Camp did not attend Monday's hearing because it was scheduled at the same time commissioners had scheduled a meeting to interview finalists.

In a letter yesterday to Council Chairman Todd Apo, Camp said Dela Cruz did not return phone calls Monday afternoon to see whether the Public Safety Committee was still in session after the Police Commission had finished its interviews.

Camp said she would be available this morning.

Camp also noted that the commission has the sole authority to select the police chief.

Dela Cruz said yesterday that he is hoping Camp will be able to answer questions today.