Montgomery County advisory group urges transparent search for next police chief

The Advisory Commission on Policing has urged incoming Montgomery County Executive Will Jawando to conduct an open and transparent search for the county's next police chief, according to The Baltimore Banner.

The commission sent a letter this week emphasizing the need for a process that includes public dialogue and input, noting that the previous selection was rapid and lacked these elements. The new chief must be appointed by Jawando and approved by the County Council.

The commission, established in 2019 to improve trust between the police and the public, suggested that the search be led by an outside organization experienced in hiring police executives and consider both internal and external candidates.

They outlined important criteria for the role, including leadership that can reduce crime, improve response times, strengthen public trust, boost morale and recruitment, and manage risks effectively. The chief should also have graduated from an executive training program like the FBI National Academy and have experience managing a complex multi-million dollar budget.

The letter also recommended questions for candidates, focusing on approaches to youth-related crime and disciplinary actions for officers who fail to follow departmental policies. Jawando has not yet commented on how he will conduct the search or his preferences for candidates.

Jawando is set to take office on December 7 and has indicated the police chief nomination will be among his first decisions, but details about the process remain unclear.