Minneapolis News: Mayor Frey Convenes Community Stakeholders for Police Chief Search Committee

This post appeared here in the News section of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has formed a search committee to work with Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc. (PSSC), the executive search firm brought on by the City, to lead the Chief of Police search process.

The search committee is made up of diverse community members to help with front-end processes, interview candidates vetted by PSSC, and recommend candidates to Mayor Frey for final consideration. City staff will also support the search committee’s work.

“This search committee brings together community leaders and stakeholders who understand the importance and impact of this search process,” said Frey. “We are drawing from deep talent and a broad range of experience – but most importantly, this committee reflects our city’s values. We need to get this hire right, and this committee will bring an honest and intentional approach to making sure we do.”

“Serving on this search committee may be one of the most consequential actions of my career on the City Council,” said City Council President Andrea Jenkins. “I look forward to joining community leaders and stakeholders dedicated to making Minneapolis a safer city for all. Our residents, our police force, and all who come to Minneapolis, deserve a police chief who will lead with integrity, vision, and compassion. I am committed to ensuring that becomes our reality.”

Confirmed search committee members are:

Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis City Council President
LaTrisha Vetaw, Minneapolis City Council Member, Chair – Public Health and Safety Committee
Chanda Smith Baker, Chief Impact Officer and Senior Vice President, Minneapolis Foundation
Karin Birkeland, Retired Partner, Faegre Drinker
Tim Carter, Chief Financial Officer, Piper Sandler Companies
Lisa Clemons, Founder and Director, A Mother’s Love Initiative
Susana De León, Owner, De León, Nestor & Torres
Michael A. Goze, Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Community Development Corporation
Greg Hestness, Board Chair, Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team
Bishop Richard Howell, Jr., Pastor, Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Sara Jones, Executive Director, Great North Innocence Project
The mayor’s office is also working with the Youth Coordinating Board (YCB) to ensure youth voices are part of the search committee. The list will be updated when and if confidentiality concerns are addressed.

Interim Civil Rights Director Alberder Gillespie along with the mayor’s Chief of Staff Mychal Vlatkovich and Principal Policy Aide Jared Jeffries will support the committee.

The search process will include engagement with internal and external stakeholders. PSSC has already begun meeting with internal stakeholders including the mayor and City Council Members. PSSC will also conduct community stakeholder meetings with individuals and groups identified by the City. PSSC will hold a separate discussion with Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) command staff and labor representation.

To engage a broad cross-section of internal and external stakeholders beyond meeting with specific groups, PSSC will additionally develop and open two online surveys. One external survey will collect constituent feedback and public comment – open to anyone. There will be a second online survey that will collect internal MPD staff feedback and comments.

The input PSSC gathers from these different stakeholders – during meetings and from the surveys – will be reviewed, summarized, and used to support the creation and development of a Position Profile – and to inform the selection process.

After PSSC posts the official job and begins recruitment efforts, the search committee will review candidate information and select candidates for interviews. After interviews are completed by the search committee, they will forward final candidates on to Mayor Frey for additional interviews and consideration. Mayor Frey will interview final candidates before making a selection.

Mayor Frey’s nominated candidate will go through a background process conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) before the nomination and confirmation goes through the Minneapolis City Council for approval.

The search process is anticipated to be complete by summer 2022.