As in previous instances, the City is using a comprehensive process to select its next Chief of Police with opportunities for the community to engage in the process. The City has retained the services of an Executive Search firm GovHR to assist in this effort. GovHR most recently assisted in successfully recruiting the two current Deputy Police Chiefs and assisted in the search for the previous Chief of Police. As of August 3, more than 20 candidates from nine states had applied for the position. City Manager, Bob Cowell has moved six of these candidates forward in the process. City Manager Cowell will also be convening two interview panels to aid him in the selection of the next Chief. One panel consists of those within or closely aligned with City Administration, while a second panel consists of community members and representatives of various organizations that often interact with Roanoke City Police.
City Manager Cowell will further be assisted by leadership of the Roanoke Police Officers Association, who will meet each of the candidates being interviewed, share with them an overview of the various police facilities and current operations and conduct a community tour.
Each of these will provide a briefing to City Manager Cowell regarding what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Cowell will select one or more finalists who will participate in a community open house where any member of the community may meet the candidate(s) and share their thoughts and opinions with City Manager Cowell prior to an offer of employment.
Further, residents and business owners in Roanoke are invited to share their thoughts about what they hope to see in the next Chief of Police via a short survey, available online at https://roanoke-va.civilspace.io/en/projects/roanoke-chief-of-police, via phone at6 540-853-1007 or by mail using the survey questions. The online survey will close Monday, August 21. Surveys completed by mail or by phone must be received by August 21 as well. The information provided via this survey will assist the City Manager and the interview panels as they meet with each of the candidates.
The tentative schedule for the interview process is as follows: Panel interviews and Association Leadership Interaction on Aug. 22 – 23; Community Open House with finalists during the week of Aug. 28; and extension of offer of employment no later than Sept. 1st.
