Dallas Mayor Johnson spoke with The Dallas Express about the search for a new police chief and how this process will differ from the ongoing search for a new fire chief.
New Dallas City Manager Kimberly Tolbert has announced a national search for a new Dallas Police Department Chief of Police and a regional and local search for the next Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief.
Tolbert stated in a news release that the City is working with Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc. in both searches.
Mayor Johnson explained to The Dallas Express that Tolbert would be fully responsible for selecting both candidates but have discussed the need for a national search to find the right police chief.
“So when I was asked, I gave the response that I think a national search was appropriate because Dallas is a top ten American city. It’s complex. It’s got crime issues that we are, I think, addressing very well,” said the mayor.
“But we’re addressing [crime issues] very well because we had a police chief who I think was the product of a national search and who got the message loud and clear through some messaging that came out of my office, for sure, that we need a police chief who takes violent crime seriously and is not above going to experts and asking for help in crafting a plan.”
Mayor Johnson further stated that he and Tolbert are in “lockstep agreement” regarding the search and the type of person for the role.
The mayor explained that the police chief is a more “public-facing” role that requires a different personality than the fire chief, resulting in a more nationwide search to find the best candidate.
“You’ve got to go around town and sit down with the regional chamber and the citizens’ council, editorial boards, and other folks. And it’s just that that’s a whole different type of person, and it warrants, probably, a national search versus a more regional and state one. So I’m on board with that approach, too,” the mayor told The Dallas Express.
In the news release about the search, Tolbert wrote that the City is looking for a “visionary leader” who is prepared to lead the Dallas Police Department into “its next chapter.”
“Our next chief must have experience building trust and legitimacy, promoting innovation, fostering talent, and implementing meaningful strategies to reduce crime,” stated Tolbert.
Mayor Johnson also provided details about the search for a new Dallas Fire Chief and said that a regional search is common when cities look to fill these roles.
“But the rationale for her taking the approach of state and local regional search as opposed to national search is that, for one, generally those positions end up kind of being filled on a regional basis anyway. People kind of move around in their region from smaller fire departments to larger ones,” explained the mayor.
According to the news release from Tolbert, these searches are expected to begin on or before Friday, with the belief that the roles will be filled by early Spring.