CPRB discusses hiring process for new Columbia police chief at meeting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Citizens Police Review Board met Wednesday night to discuss the hiring process for a new police chief.
This comes after Chief Geoff Jones announced he plans to retire on Aug. 1. The city hired a search firm to help find potential new candidates, and said it plans to hold a total of 9 forums to seek the public's input on qualities wanted in a new chief. The search is costing the city $60,000.
City officials previously said it plans to have a new chief hired within six months, and that the forums will help determine what candidates move forward. Matt Stephens will serve as the interim chief starting July 31.
Several forums are scheduled to be held around the City with various groups to gather input on the next chief.
Members of the board expressed their frustration with the city's communication over the search during Wednesday night's meeting. Board Chair Reece Ellis said the city should have told the public sooner and the community forums aren't accessible to everyone.
"You know, of course, the forum is still going on right now, but it started in the middle of the afternoon on a week day," Ellis said. "Which some people would argue, myself included, is not necessarily accessible to working people who live in this community."
City spokeswoman Sydney Olsen said the city currently does not have any candidates, and are still working to see what qualities the community wants out of the new chief.
"Just so we're making sure we are finding people who want to live in a community like this, and want to help it grow, so no candidates yet," Olsen said. "We are finalizing that and then the advertisements will go out soon and then from there we will narrow down the list of candidates."
Olsen also said there will be more opportunity in the future to get community members more involved in the search.
"Further down the road, members of the community will have an opportunity to provide feedback," Olsen said. "We're looking at having stakeholder you know kind of interviews with those candidates that are selected and we're also talking about having a candidates meeting or you know community forum if you will."
