There are ways to broaden community participation in the hiring
process for the next Gilroy police chief
The hiring of a new police chief is an important step in the evolution of the Gilroy Police Department. We laud the city for opening the process to the public, as they did at a July 10 meeting.
But given the sparse attendance – just five members of the public turned out – it is hardly a wellspring of information upon which to base a hiring profile.
Can’t the city devise and publicize a Web survey? Residents who are pressed for time would be far more likely to comment in a survey that is easily accessible.
Still, the forum comments are valid. Residents detailed what they like about Gilroy, what crimes worry them and the kind of chief they’d like to see take the helm.
What did they want?
n Someone who spends time in Gilroy schools.
n Someone who understands the issues of homelessness.
n Someone who communicates effectively, verbally and in writing.
n Someone who does not commute to and from Gilroy.
n And, someone who will go to bat for police, to secure the resources the department needs.
All are valid ideas. But it’s also vitally important for the community to find someone who will communicate effectively with the public, a person who will step up and into the spotlight when public safety issues warrant and when departmental issues come to the surface that require someone address it in a clear and public leadership role.
Residents who attended the forum also were worried about rising property crimes, methamphetamine addiction and a recent rash of sex crimes by strangers. All said they felt positively about Gilroy police, and were pleased with response times. But the city’s growth had some concerned that Gilroy’s small-town feel – and small-town crime – could suffer as population grows.
The new chief needs to be hands on, needs to develop a plan, and then implement that plan with the resources available.
Interestingly, of 364 voters in the Dispatch Web poll, an overwhelming number (65 to 35 percent) said they didn’t think the ability to speak Spanish was important for a new chief. We disagree. All other qualifications being close to equal, a bilingual chief would be a considerable asset for our community.
