The process of selecting a new Los Angeles Chief of Police has just entered phase two. The candidates for chief who will advance to the next stage of the selection process all were notified on Thursday.
In phase one, 24 candidates—13 from within the department, elevenfrom outside—filled out an application that included a bunch of term paper-ish essay questions, in which candidates were asked to describe their ideas about and experience with around a half dozen issues that are part of a chief’s job—matters such as dealing with unions, new technology and so on.
The applications were reviewed by LA City Personnel Department General Manager Margaret Whelan and her team.
And out of the pile of applications, Maggie Whelan (a surprisingly powerful person about whom we know nothing) was to choose between six and twelve candidates.
The next step was for that list of 6-12 to be passed along to the LA Police commission, who will interview the candidates.
That long list is whittled down to the short list of three candidates who are then passed to the mayor with a recommendation.
None of the candidates were told how many were on that pre-short list.
I’ve spoken to two of the candidates who are moving to the next round.
My guess is that(in alphabetical order) Charlie Beck, Sergio Diaz, Jim McDonnell, Mike Moore, Sharon Papa, Earl Paysinger are on the list. Yet there will likely be some surprises.
I’ll let you know when I know for sure who’s on.
I do know that the interviews will be on October 21 and 22.
Good luck to all concerned, and good luck to us.
(David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News)