City of Ithaca
Chief of Police Search Process
Ithacans Brainstorm Traits for Chief
By Stephanie Lustgarten
Members of the Ithaca community had a chance to give their input to the search process for the city’s new police chief last night at the first of four community forums.
“What we’re about to embark on is a grand experiment on how to bring the community together,” said Mayor Alan Cohen ’81. “We want to hear from the community what characteristics are important in our next police chief.”
“I think it’s a great beginning of this process… I think people are sharing ideas and doing some hard thinking,” said Common Council member John Johnson (D-3rd Ward).
In addition to the forms, there will also be a committee to screen and interview applicants, and make a selection of three final candidates.
Cohen said he well announce the members of the screening committee by the end of the week.
The forum and committee are part of the six-month process designed by Prof. William Trochim, Human Service Studies.
“Clearly the major source of input would be public brainstorming sessions,” Trochim said.
Participants in the forum, which took place at Beverly Martin School, broke into brainstorming sessions that were open to the public but closed to the press.
“We don’t want to intimidate anybody,” Trochim said.
Approximately 20 people came to the forum, and some blamed the low turnout on Sunday’s police stabbing.
“Probably three-quarters [of the people] that might have shown thought that the meeting should have been canceled. But this process has to go on,” said Bob Romanowski, a fire commissioner for the Town of Ithaca.
Among the characteristics for a new chief that brainstormers brought up were the ability to deal with the mechanics of law enforcement as well as public relations skills, according to Johnson.
“We need a person who’s able to administer a quasi-military apartment [and at the same time] involve the community,” Johnson said.
Ithaca resident Mike Yarrow cited racism, drugs and unemployment as issued the new chief will have to face.
“[We need] someone who understands racism and other kinds of bias,” Yarrow said. “There certainly are a lot of young people in the community who don’t have jobs,” he added.
Trochim had originally scheduled three community forums, which included last night’s initial brainstorming meeting. But because of low turnout there will be a second brainstorming session in early December.
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