Five finalists hoping to become Bellevue’s next police chief outlined on Oct. 24 several strategies for strengthening personnel and how their management style would be a benefit to the city.

The finalists were in Bellevue last week to meet with the public and city staff, and will continue to discuss their qualifications for the position with staff panels this week before City Manager Brad Miyake makes a final decision in the following two weeks.

Austin Police Assistant Chief Raul Munguia said Bellevue’s police force should better reflect the city’s changing demographics, which would build more trust with its growing immigrant population. Munguia has served in his role since 2010, first joining the Austin Police Department in 1984 as a patrol officer. He oversees daily operations in a department of 2,300 law enforcement and support staff, and holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science from Mid-Western State University.

Seattle Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Metz said officer recruitment should be focused locally, with a focus on programs in high schools that generate positive interactions between youth and police. Metz is one of two local finalists, having served with the SPD for 31 years. He has been assistant chief since 2001, and has a degree in law enforcement administration from City University.

Bellevue Police Deputy Chief Jim Jolliffe, a 23-year veteran of the department, said the BPD has an outreach team for staff recruitment, but should consider targeting other parts of the country. Jolliffe holds a criminal justice degree from the American Military University.

Mitch McCann, police chief in Simi Valley, Calif., has more than 29 years of law enforcement experience, and acknowledged the loss of seasoned officers through retirement is impacting agencies across the nation. He said veteran officers need to be paired with new recruits quickly to pass on their institutional knowledge, adding young officers joining the ranks add value due to having more experience with today’s technology. McCann has been chief of the Simi Valley Police Department since 2012. He holds a degree in business administration and Master of Public Administration degree from California State University-Northridge.

Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Matthew Clark said he would focus on defining what Bellevue looks for in a new recruit as far as their adaptability and emotional maturity, requiring supervisors to closely monitor their progress and conduct frequent performance evaluations. Clark has 21 years of experience with his department, serving as assistant chief since 2012. Clark holds a Master of Public Administration and Human Services degree from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn.

Jolliffe said the BPD is dealing with this loss of institutional experience now, pairing younger officers with veteran staff. He added the department isn’t only focused on new recruits, but also more experienced officers from other departments.

The next police chief in Bellevue also will have to continue mending a poor public perception of the department held by a number of residents, brought on by several incidents within the force that resulted in the firing of long-time staffers. One officer resigned earlier this year after being charged with DUI, and the 15-year veteran Bellevue officer who let him off the hook during the traffic stop last November was later fired by Chief Linda Pillo, who retired in April. Another officer with 22 years of experience was removed from the bomb squad in February after he was found to have driven a bomb disposal vehicle to an unofficial celebration months earlier and consumed alcohol. Last week, interim Police Chief Jim Montgomery fired a lieutenant with 19 years on the force for allegedly falsifying a document submitted with a worker’s compensation claim and lying about it during an investigation.

“It’s difficult for me to let us be defined by the missteps of a few people,” said Jolliffe on Oct. 24. “These incidents are embarrassing to the agency, they’re embarrassing to the individuals involved. What really defines us is the work our men and women are doing on the street every day.”

Clark said “you get what you tolerate,” and accountability also should belong to the supervisors of officers found violating the law or department policies. Munguia said an investigation into an officer’s behavior and disciplinary action should be swift, and McCann added those actions should be transparent to the public. He also said if the problem is substance abuse, such as alcohol, an officer should be provided treatment before the matter affects their job performance further.