CLEARLAKE >> The City of Clearlake held a public input forum to hear what the community would like to see in their next Police Chief. The meeting came as authorities start the recruitment process.
A little over 50 community members attended the forum, along with many city staff members and a few city council representatives.
Those who participated generally agreed that Clearlake’s next chief should have an open door and be accessible to the community, is accountable and has integrity. Discussion swirled around the idea of a clean background, but it was supported by the majority. The group also desired someone local or willing to adapt to the community.
“This is going to inform our recruiting strategy on what we are looking for. What type of candidates, what types of backgrounds and skill sets, what the challenges are,” said Greg Nelson, a senior consultant with Ralph Andersen & Associates.
Clearlake hired Ralph Andersen & Associates, a recruiting organization, to help with the process.
“He is a professional recruiter and the company,” Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom said of Nelson, explaining the decision to go with an outside agency. “What they do Chief of Police recruitments nationwide and he is also a former chief of police.”
Nelson said he did a 20-year police career with the last five as the chief and now has enjoyed doing police chief recruitmenting.
“This is my eleventh one in the last few years and I am looking forward to helping find your next Police Chief for the City of Clearlake. The purpose of this meeting today largely is for me to listen to all of you,” Nelson said.
This process is expected to take up to 90 days. Two weeks will be spent in developing a candidate profile, six weeks of outreach and recruitment and then a few weeks for selection at the end.
“We will use this to help filter select and screen candidates to see which candidates are more likely to be successful here than not and which should be interviewed and which should not,”
The company has been consulting for various public sector position searches since 1972. Nelson said the firm has done recruitmenting for positions that range from Police Chief, Fire Chief, City manager and other seats.
Nelson fielded questions from attendees, gathering information on the city’s challenges — including homelessness, drug-related crime, funding and public image — what residents enjoy about Clearlake and how the police department fits into the community.
Although a few city council members were present, Folsom made it clear that the function was not a council meeting or an agendized meeting.
“The council is just here to listen,” he said.
