During a town hall meeting in the City of San Fernando last week, residents weighed in with their concerns about the hiring of the next chief of the San Fernando Police Department (SFPD).
The meeting was called by the city to “identify the leadership qualities” residents would like to see in their next police chief. But several residents questioned why the city is persistently in this situation, with key positions left vacant, and pointed to larger issues as the cause to address.
About two dozen community members gathered in City Council chambers for the Nov. 5 meeting with city staff, a representative of Bob Murray & Associates, the recruiting firm leading the nationwide job search, and Interim SFPD Chief Anthony Miranda.
Miranda was appointed in early August, less than two months after former SFPD Chief Fabian Valdez announced he was stepping down after leading the department for more than four years. Valdez, like other police chiefs before him, had a difficult time making changes that were often opposed by the department’s police union.
Julie Cuellar, a resident and longtime supporter of the SFPD, said she wants the next chief to have extensive leadership experience and be able to “identify problems, develop solutions and deliver results” – especially for issues residents have been raising for years, including speeding, traffic accidents and “the need for greater police visibility” across the city.
“I [also] want a chief who has the experience and ability to recruit, develop and retain qualified police officers, so that our department can maintain a fully-staffed patrol division,” said Cuellar.
Miranda, a retired police chief who served in the cities of Vernon, Irwindale and Bell, said he is “very optimistic” about the search for a new chief, adding that he’s “very proud” of the department and “happy to support the transition process.”
Problematic History
But over the years, the SFPD has had more than its share of controversies and shootings. Miranda came on board just before the most recent one – a fatal officer-involved shooting in the alley behind Library Plaza on Aug. 31, when SFPD officers shot and killed a man wielding a shovel.
Six officers, who have not been identified and have since resumed active duty, were involved in the shooting. Last month, Miranda told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol that all of the officers were wearing body cameras. The shooting currently remains under investigation by the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) California Police Shooting Investigation Team.
In addition, sources close to the city and the SFPD said they believe Valdez was essentially forced to retire. During their tenures, Valdez and other former chiefs often clashed with the local Police Officers Association (POA), which has frequently resisted efforts to discipline officers. The SFPD has strongly resisted change.
Residents Want Informed and Independent Leader
During the town hall meeting, Sylvia Ballin, a former San Fernando mayor and city councilmember, said she finds the high turnover rate of local police chiefs concerning.
After Marco Anthony “Tony” Ruelas was elevated to chief in 2010, he retired less than two years later following misconduct investigations. And among the three different acting or interim SFPD chiefs that followed – from 2012 to 2015 – Lt. Jeff Eley was placed on leave due to ticket-fixing allegations, and Gil Carrillo was dismissed by the City Council after serving only four months.
And most recently, John Perez, former Pasadena Police Chief, took the helm as acting SFPD chief after Valdez’s departure, before Miranda was named interim chief of the department.
Because some of the candidates for chief will likely be from other cities or states – and not familiar with local history – “they need to know what they’re coming into,” stressed Ballin.
“They need a fair shot,” she said. “Look at the problems in the past and share that information with anyone [on your short list] who’s deeply interested [in the job], so they can make an informed decision. I didn’t see that approach taken for the last two chiefs that were hired, and sitting on city council at the time, I was very disappointed. … Give them the facts.”
Julio Martinez, a local resident and business owner, said he wants the next chief to serve the community and “really motivate and teach the officers about de-escalating.” Additionally, he believes the chief should be free to make decisions independent of the City Council.
“[The chief] needs to be able to make the decisions for the police department … without interference [from any] city council member – that is the biggest thing,” he said. “The only person the chief should report to is the city manager … that [way] there’s no politics involved, [and] there’s no POA people trying to influence who they hire and who they don’t hire.”
Dolores Rodriguez, who has lived in San Fernando for the past 40 years, offered praise for Valdez, describing him as “very respectful,” adding simply, “He tried.” She hopes the next person who steps in as chief will “demonstrate integrity and fairness and … [not] take sides.”
“I hope the priorities of the next chief will include protecting our families, responding promptly to emergencies [and] listening to the concerns of our community,” continued Rodriguez. “And I hope he [like Valdez] can speak Spanish and English. It’s important in our community.”
Sergio Ibarra, human resources and risk manager for the city, explained that getting community feedback was the last piece of the puzzle in preparation for the official recruitment period. The recruiters, who will screen candidates and conduct preliminary interviews for the position, also
accepted community input online and via written submissions.
They also spoke with City Council members and SFPD officers and staff about their thoughts and expectations for the new chief.
The goal, said Michael Ishii of Bob Murray & Associates, is to compile all the information they gather to develop the hiring criteria, key priorities and formal job description for the SFPD chief.
A job announcement flyer will be presented to the City Council for approval at their Nov. 16 meeting. During that meeting, they will also discuss other details, including an estimated timeline for the hiring process, which could be impacted by the impending departure of City Manager Kanika Kith, because the city manager makes the final decision regarding who is hired as chief.
Ibarra said they are recruiting simultaneously for the SFPD chief and city manager positions, and “casting a wide net to bring in strong candidates.”