City of Ithaca
Chief of Police Search Process
Final Statements Page
The Screening Committee for the Chief of Police Selection Process met to review the 310 statements generated by the community (see Complete Brainstormed Statement List). Because there were so many different ways community members could brainstorm statements (community forums, drop boxes, phone, web site) we knew there would be many similar statements. The committee carefully reviewed all of the statements and consolidated them to a final set of 74 characteristics that members of the community would like to see in the next Chief. This final list is presented below. Remember that the original focus for this brainstorming was:
One specific characteristic I would like to see in the next Chief of Police is...
Final Statement Listing
- to inspire the police department to work together to make changes by having more of a leadership role in the department
- be willing to develop workable alternatives by exercising good management skills
- someone who is proactive in heading off problems before they come to a head
- someone who is able to enforce rules while facilitating complaint/grievance exchange by treating people fairly and respectfully and not playing "favorites"
- someone who will lead the Ithaca Police Dept. into the next century with a mission statement that sets the standards of professionalism
- to provide a timely plan of action to address issues of accountability within the department
- appreciates diversity in community but also, after listening to all points of view, isn't afraid to make a decision
- administrator that understands an organization that is quasi-military, but also understands the power and impact of a police officer carrying a gun
- able to stop the "code of silence"
- emphasis will be on restorative justice, victim-offender reconciliation, diversionary programs and target prevention programs in the community
- someone who has global vision; is able to fairly assess various populations as they relate to police work (on the victim side as well as the perpetrator's side)
- someone who is himself or herself a trainer in community relations, diversity issues, staff development, and group dynamics
- someone who expects that officers are civil, friendly and available for community members to speak to them
- someone who is outgoing, friendly, and civil
- someone who is able to take criticism
- someone who could triumph over physical disability
- someone who is moral and will serve with ethics and commitment for justice for all
- a people person with a sense of humor to enable the chief to get through each stressful, high energy, challenging day
- someone who is not a political pawn or puppet and has the courage to do what is needed as opposed to what is "politically correct"
- a person who "commands" respect from police officers as opposed to "demanding" respect
- able to accept the amount of pressure required by the community
- balanced and respectful of all people
- ability to listen to both officers and community (listen to concerns and help people to find common ground)
- to be a person of color and/or female and/or low income background
- an understanding of issues involving youth and does not look at them as necessarily creating problems
- has the respect of the officers and public in communities that s/he has served
- the ability to listen, hear, empathize, and talk with people
- the ability to communicate with a diverse public
- knows you can always learn and be willing to learn from his/her staff
- a professional with a strong commitment to productive partnership with the local schools
- understands that crime is often a symptom and that simplistic and/or repressive approaches leave the real problems untouched
- uncompromising honesty and demands the same of the officers in terms of evidence and respect to due process of the law
- part politician, part street cop
- ability to rise above the petty politics in this community
- be connected with state and national organizations of police, to have ready access to new developments
- will not seek laws expanding police power
- willingness to collaborate and share information within community groups and agencies
- lots of knowledge about domestic violence and rape
- enforcing an up-to-date domestic violence policy
- s/he should be respected in the community for service, dedication and understanding of the population who live here
- have a previously demonstrated ability to be connected with community constituents
- demonstrated ability to move departments toward the future; i.e., computerization, community policing, etc.
- well-known in the community where s/he is currently working as a model of appropriate behavior who tolerates no hint of discriminatory talk or action whether on the streets or in the locker room
- to have previous work experience from a community that is reflective of Ithaca's population; i.e., ethnicity and racial composition
- experience working with drug enforcement teams
- a college education
- the ability to articulate the limitations, expectations, and needs of the police department
- experience with proactive prevention measures as they apply to youth of today and developing cities
- ability to work with and guide police officers to work with diverse social, age, economic groups as well as community agencies representing those groups
- implement policies and training that would help the Ithaca Police Dept. treat all people equitably
- willing to diversify the police department
- a sense or record of fairness in dealing with people of different classes
- someone who has a strong commitment and a proven record in affirmative action
- sensitive to issues of diversity within the larger community, and specifically within the city of Ithaca; e.g., race, sexual preference, etc.
- dedicated to positive racial interaction
- training and sensitivity to diversity and community dynamics
- s/he must be committed to working cooperatively with the community police board and the community lay advocates
- someone who continues the department's current innovation in investigative techniques--burglary, drug intervention, shoplifting
- believes in community participation and accountability of the police force to the community
- improve each individual officer's level of education and training, including training in the protection of civil and human rights of all citizens
- willing to try innovative policing methods that make the Ithaca Police Dept. a proactive police dept.
- someone who will keep the Ithaca Police Dept. up to date in training, technology, equipment and diversity
- able to deal with all of the problems Ithaca faces through community involvement and understanding of the community
- think about overall safety of community
- s/he should be an innovator, not only in training but in equipment/technology, police practices, and dealing with issues of a diverse community
- a professional with a strong commitment to communication with and maintenance of safe neighborhoods
- in touch with the community
- a civic-minded individual with the desire and ability to educate him/herself on all aspects of this community
- able to communicate with various communities in an ethical, knowledgeable and professional manner
- experience with heterogeneous communities (i.e., rural, urban, race, class, sexual preference, etc.)
- ability to work closely with the various groups and organizations within the city to improve the daily life of residents
- versed in preventative application of policing and has resources for alternative incarcerations (prevention of recidivism and true rehabilitation)
- someone with specific programs s/he can implement to improve communications between the community and the Ithaca Police Dept.
- demonstrated ability to provide leadership to Ithaca Police Dept. fairly, consistently, and with integrity
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This project is sponsored in part by:
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