by John Glidden | glid24@protonmail.com | June 22, 2024
VALLEJO – The city has scheduled at least three community meetings asking for residents to discuss what they would like to see in Vallejo’s next police chief.
Vallejo has retained the executive recruiting firm Bob Hall and Associates to conduct the nation-wide search to fill the chief of police position. It is the same firm the city recently used to find City Manager Andrew Murray.
The first recruitment meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, June 27 and will be held online. The Zoom link: https://bit.ly/VPD-chief
Additional meetings include:
- 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 29 inside the Vallejo City Hall Council Chambers, 555 Santa Clara Street.
- 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 25 inside the Vallejo Room, located on the first floor of the John F. Kennedy Public Library, 505 Santa Clara Street.
Filling the chief of police position will no-doubt be a priority for Murray, who began with the city of Vallejo in late May. Vallejo police is facing numerous issues, including the departure of rank-and-file officers to other departments.
Since 2019, the number of sworn officers has decreased from 103 to just 79 in July 2023, according to data released by the police department. One of the most significant aspects of the declining force came in November 2022 when Williams, the city’s first Black police chief, resigned after three years.
Williams’ time in Vallejo was fraught with issues between his office and the Vallejo Police Officers’ Association (VPOA). The union took a “no confidence” vote regarding Williams’ leadership months before he left the city.
Jason Ta has been serving as interim police chief for over 18 months following the sudden departure of then-Police Chief Shawny Williams.
Williams hired Ta in September 2021 after both men served together with the San Jose Police Department.
Williams’ time in Vallejo was fraught with issues between his office and the Vallejo Police Officers’ Association (VPOA). The union took a “no confidence” vote regarding Williams’ leadership months before he left the city.
Following the last community meeting, the firm will screen the applicants and then present potential candidates to three different panels: Community members, professionals, and city leaders. Murray will then make his pick in September.
Murray faced a similar process as he interviewed with a community panel, made up of individuals selected by the Vallejo City Council, a city staff panel, and the council itself
Questions about the police chief recruitment can be directed to the city’s Human Resources Department, (707) 648-4363, human.resources@cityofvallejo.net
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