The city of Morgan Hill, and at least some of its residents are
looking for a new chief who is able to interact with the community,
and be an effective communicator, rather than someone who is merely
tough on crime.
The city of Morgan Hill, and at least some of its residents are looking for a new chief who is able to interact with the community, and be an effective communicator, rather than someone who is merely tough on crime.
As part of the process of recruiting a new permanent chief, the city manager conducted two sparsely attended public workshops to solicit input on what kind of characteristics the residents want in a police department leader.
Those who attended thought the necessary qualifications for a police chief transcend the ability to do routine police work.
“(The new chief) should be able to lead the professional department, and lead in the community,” said resident and Planning Commissioner Joe Mueller, who attended Tuesday’s workshop.
Other attendees said the new chief should have prior police leadership experience in a community similar to Morgan Hill, be able to reach different demographic segments of the community including Hispanics, and be open and honest about potential problems facing the department.
City Manager Ed Tewes said he was disappointed in the low turnout at the workshops Monday and Tuesday, to which a combined total of about 18 people showed up. He has also offered to conduct special meetings with other community groups and homeowners’ associations to continue gathering residents’ perspectives.
The city will be accepting applications for the chief of police position until the end of September, Tewes said.
The executive search firm Bob Murray and Associates has also been hired by the city to recruit a chief who matches the city’s desired qualifications, and to sift through the submitted applications and resumes. The firm is led by President Bob Murray, former city manager for Olympia, Wash., and lists several cities throughout the country as its clients.
Tewes said he expects the position to be competitive with numerous applicants. While a police chief in California does not have to be a police officer when initially hired, Tewes said he will be seeking a new chief that has police experience.
A three-page job description posted on Bob Murray and Associates’ website says the ideal candidate for Morgan Hill’s chief of police would be “an individual who is respectful, honest, ethical, compassionate and possesses a high level of integrity.”
It says the city is looking for a chief who will keep an “open door policy” with staff, will strive to be involved in the community and has experience working with other city departments. The ideal chief would also be a “skilled communicator and have a proven record of professionalism,” the website says.
Other qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree, with a Master’s degree preferred, and at least four years of police leadership experience at the level of lieutenant or above.
Occupying the chief’s position on an interim basis starting Sept. 15, is former Salinas police chief Dan Ortega, who retired last year. He will serve in Morgan Hill for about four months, as Tewes expects to appoint a new permanent chief by the end of December.
Acting as chief until Sept. 15 is Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. Joe Sampson, due to his higher seniority between the department’s two existing commanders.
Anyone who wishes to conduct more police chief recruitment workshops with the city manager or wants to offer their ideas of what kind of chief the city should appoint can contact Tewes by e-mail at ci*********@***********ca.gov.
