Arlington’s police chief search leaves some groups upset over unanswered questions
They thought they were going to ask Arlington’s police chief candidates direct questions concerning the organizations they represent. Instead, community panelists were told to stick to a list of prepared questions from city staff and a third-party consulting firm, leaving some frustrated over one of the latest steps in the selection process.
City officials and community representatives spent two days interviewing nine police chief hopefuls for the position Will Johnson left June 1. Multiple panelists said the city and Bowman Group, the third-party consulting firm led by former police chief Theron Bowman, provided questions that touched on building consensus in tough situations and gaining the trust of diverse communities. Candidates also talked through incident scenarios they received beforehand.
Multiple panelists, some of whom had prepared questions they wished to ask candidates, said they were upset they did not have more time to go off script. The structure incensed Luis Castillo, president of the city’s League of United Latino American Citizens chapter, who said he walked out before the sessions began. He repeated his disdain for the process in an email sent to City Manager Trey Yelverton and copied to Mayor Jeff Williams, City Council members and other panelists.
“I don’t see how the community’s engaged in this process because it’s been dictated to us how it’s going to roll out,” Castillo said in a phone interview.
Aftab Siddiqui, representive for Dar El-Eman Islamic Center, said he wished panelists had more information on the ground rules going into the Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 sessions. However, he was able to ask candidates their response to nationwide calls to defund police agencies and whether they would support the formation of a citizen-led review board.
“It took us some time to really understand the process and to incorporate our questions that we wanted to ask within that structure of questions that the consultants had given us.” Siddiqui said.
The city’s communication department did not make Yelverton or staff available after multiple requests for comment on the panels or selection process.
Sue Phillips, president of East Arlington Renewal, said city had to structure the sessions so that each candidate received equal treatment.
“When you’re a layperson like me, if you want to go off script, you have to remember what you ask and ask every candidate the same question,” she said.
Yelverton and city staff have contacted more than 20 organizations of business owners, faith-based groups and neighborhood organizations during the search, according to emails obtained by the Star-Telegram. City staff also received a handful of messages from residents about the process in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.
Arlington NAACP President Alisa Simmons said the city has been receptive to their requests, which included hiring a third-party consulting firm, fielding interview panels made up of residents and officials and considering any candidates the organization suggested. The NAACP also asked the city to consider only candidates who support the formation of an oversight committee.
The NAACP’s two panelists, however, were disappointed they could not ask questions NAACP members had for semifinalists, Simmons said. Although they became more comfortable with the process, they had to accept they would have to trust the city and Bowman Group’s selection process.
“We appreciate him asking us for our input on a regular basis,” Simmons said. “On the community panel thing, he probably should have discussed the format with community members beforehand because it was indeed maddening for some.”
The city received 74 applications in the search to replace Johnson, announced his retirement April 27 after around seven years as police chief. The search is down to nine candidates after Joseph Gramaglia, a deputy police commissioner in Buffalo, New York, withdrew his application. Semifinalists include four Arlington officers, including interim police chiefs Jaime Ayala and Kevin Kolbye.
Yelverton will select a new police chief by late October or early November, according to city press releases. The city will facilitate forum sessions with the final handful of candidates, which Phillips said will provide the public space and time to directly question finalists.
“That seems pretty fair and reasonable to me,” Phillips said.
The city has not yet announced forum dates or locations.
