NORFOLK, Va. — The search for the new Norfolk Police Chief has been narrowed down to three finalists.
Now, the city is seeking the public's input on the final three candidates' qualifications before a final decision is made.
Norfolk City Manager, Dr. Chip Filer, said the finalists were selected from a pool of roughly 40 applicants.
Each of the candidates work in southeastern U.S. cities, according to Dr. Filer.
"We have individuals with experience with SWAT, with narcotics, with community policing, with basic patrol, and then you have a sitting chief," Filer said. "I really think all three have a strong foundation in what it takes to effectively police a city, because they’ve been in various divisions of these departments."
The city published each candidate’s job history and experience on its website. However, the city is keeping the identities of the candidates anonymous.
Descriptions of the three candidates, provided by the city, are as follows:
Candidate A
Law Enforcement Executive with more than 35 years’ of civilian policing and military law enforcement duties, with increasingly responsible command-level experience. Commands include but are not limited to, operations, administration, community policing, precinct operations, criminal and internal investigations, training and recruiting.
Candidate has served as Chief of Police in two localities, including an urban southeastern city.
Candidate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has completed several advanced and executive level education programs.
Candidate B
Law Enforcement Executive with more than 20 years’ of civilian policing in an urban southeastern city, with increasing responsible command-level experience. Commands include but are not limited to, community policing, narcotics, operations and training.
Candidate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and has completed several advanced and executive level education programs; is pursuing a PhD in Criminal Justice.
Candidate C
Law Enforcement Executive with nearly 35 years’ of civilian policing in a populous southeastern city, with increasing responsible command-level experience. Commands include but are not limited to, community policing, SWAT, precinct and special operations, training and development, and internal investigations.
Candidate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, a Master of Public Administration and has completed several advanced and executive level education programs.
Since former NPD Chief Larry Boone announced his retirement last April, the search process has involved partnering with the firm, Morris & McDaniel, hosting public forums, and interviewing candidates.
The search process began almost a year ago. News 3 asked Dr. Filer about the length of the process.
"It was a really tight pool of candidates all with really strong qualifications, so I actually asked for an additional level of assessment to be done by Morris & McDaniel to help provide the search committee with some additional information," Filer said. "I really just felt, from the resumes or even from just an interview, we were really having a hard time getting it whittled down, so that has added about 8 more weeks to the process."
During the search process, candidates were also asked about a variety of issues including policing equity, community-based violence intervention and prevention, approaches to recruitment and more. That information has also been made available to the public and can be viewed here.
"All three are very data driven," Filer said. "They talk about how we use data in order to patrol more effectively, and most of all, how you use data and technology to bring arrests to conviction."
News 3 also asked Dr. Filer about current vacancies within the department and crime trends. A spokesperson for Norfolk Police told News 3 the department currently has 193 vacancies.
NPD officials told News 3 the beginning of academy class 113 bring 34 recruits to the department. The academy class is the largest NPD has had since 2019.
Also, according to information from Norfolk Police, the city had 64 homicides in 2022 compared to 61 in 2021 and 50 in 2020.
"The number one thing they’re going to have to do is get out and about, listen to the community, talk to the stakeholders, figure out exactly what it is that makes up Norfolk," Filer said. "I think the reality on the ground is that we have a recruitment and retention concern, that we know that we’re up against retirements, and it’s a retirement bubble time period right now. We’re fighting that a little bit. But, I need a police chief who recognizes the importance internally of running the department, as well as understands the external components that a modern day police chief has to embrace, and has to be very good at."
But before a final decision is made, the city is giving residents the opportunity to weigh in on the finalists' responses. The city also wants to hear which qualities community members would like the next chief to possess.
For Norfolk residents Adel Hajez and Arviette Aparicio, some issues that are top of mind include steering youth away from crime and having a good police presence downtown.
They also believe their input is vital.
"We live here," Hajez said. "It’s not just somebody from a distance making a decision."
The resident portal to offer input is open until March 27.
If you'd like to voice your opinion on the police chief candidates, you can fill out the city's public input form, available at the bottom of this page. Community members are also welcome to email their feedback to NPDChiefSearch@norfolk.gov.
Filer said the decision making will be in the hands of himself and the search committee, which includes Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot, Norfolk Interim Police Chief Michael Goldsmith, and Newport News Deputy City Manager for Public Safety Alan Archer.
A final determination will be made by Dr. Filer later this Spring.
"The good news now is that all of the assessments are done," Filer said. "We have one final round of interviews with these three candidates, and I can promise the City of Norfolk their next police chief is sitting within these three candidates."
Dr. Filer said his goal is to have a new chief named by the first week in April.
We are following the search for the next Norfolk Police Chief. Stay with News 3 for updates.
