Hiring Of New Wauwatosa Police Chief To Include Public Input

WAUWATOSA, WI — Less than a month after Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber announced his retirement, the city’s citizen-led Police and Fire Commission has announced it will offer five opportunities for public input as it begins a national search for a new chief.

Weber announced his retirement Feb. 1 after serving as police chief for the past 31 years. Under Wisconsin state law, the hiring of a new police chief lies solely with the Police and Fire Commission, meaning that the mayor and city council play no role in the process.

Commission President Dominic Leone announced in a news release this week that the commission is committed to making the hiring process a public one and will offer the five upcoming opportunities for local residents to lend their voice to the process.

Leone has outlined a 11-step hiring process that will begin with a survey to allow local residents to weigh in on leadership competencies that are the most important to them, a news release said. A public survey will be open through 11:59 p.m. on March 12 before the process moves on to the next step, Leone said.

The commission plans to widely advertise for the position and plans to keep the public aware of where the job is posted. Leone also said the commission is committed to keeping the public aware of news of where the process stands by posting updates on a dedicated page on the City of Wauwatosa's website.

Commission officials said they will launch a national search to fill the position with a goal of reaching a diverse applicant pool, Leone said.

As candidates emerge, resumes will be screened by the City of Wauwatosa's human resource department and the Fire and Police Commissioner before commissioners will use feedback from the group to consider which candidates will move forward in the process.

Between three and five members of the public will be brought into the process at that point and will help to provide feedback as the phone screening of candidates begins. More members of the public (9-12) will be brought into the process as it moves forward, Leone said and members of the general public will be invited to submit questions as finalists are considered to be brought in for interviews.

Interviews will begin and will be taped on video to allow for public review and biographical information about the finalists will be made available to the public as well. Another survey will be presented to the public for feedback before finalists are interviewed by the Police and Fire Commission before a new chief is selected.

Leone did not provide a timeline for a new chief to be named.