San Diego launched a survey this week in a bid to learn what residents want to see in the city’s next police chief, as the current chief is set to retire by summer.
A link to the survey can be found at sandiego.gov/next-police-chief or by going directly to surveymonkey.com/r/T2M9X73.
The survey asks people for their thoughts on priorities in three overarching areas, including qualities and characteristics the new chief should possess, and how police should interact and engage with communities.
It also asks respondents to prioritize what they think the chief should focus on, including recruitment and retention of officers, and prioritizing training in areas such as systemic racism and social justice.
City officials are also hosting a series of forums to gather input in each council district, and the initial four are slated for this week, beginning Monday in District 7.
An outside firm is tasked with handling the recruitment process, and the search will reach across the country. The search began in November, and the city is accepting applications until Jan. 19.
Candidates for the job will undergo panel interviews next month. Final interviews will follow in March, with confirmation and appointment of the selected candidate in April.
The new chief will be sworn in in June, the same month Chief David Nisleit is set to retire after 36 years with the department. He was sworn in as the chief of police in 2018.
Public forums
Jan. 8: District 7, Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 11: District 1, Mary, Star of the Sea, 7669 Girard Ave., 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: District 2, Point Loma Library, 3701 Voltaire St., 5-7 p.m.
Jan. 13: District 8, San Ysidro Library, 4235 Beyer Blvd., 10 a.m.-noon
Jan. 16: District 9, Park De La Cruz, 3901 Landis St., 5-7 p.m.
Jan. 17: District 5, Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, 5-7 p.m.
Jan. 18: District 6, Alexandria Tech Center, 9605 Scranton Road, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 23: District 4, Fourth District Seniors Resource Center, 570 South 65th St., 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 24: District 3, Balboa Park Club, 2144 Pan American W Road., 5:30-730 p.m.
