- Have a track record of building trust and good will within their organizations and in their communities. Strong, ethical and objective leadership is essential.
- Will embrace a collaborative policing
model—that is—one with meaningful citizen involvement (be it through working
relationships with local professionals, partnerships with schools and families,
or community conversations and forums).
- Accept and appreciate civilian oversight, such
as in the form of a civilian complaint board or ombudsman, since these
build confidence in policing.
- Have experience with the Memphis Model, and/or
other best practices for working fairly and effectively with the mentally
ill and their families.
- Understand the importance of strategic
planning, and the importance of aligning department goals with those of
the community.
- Have experience with proactive and targeted
officer recruitment. We need a long-term strategy for attracting high
quality officers, whose qualifications match the specific needs of
Bainbridge Island.
- Understand the importance accurate data and
regular data collection, as well as the need to keep local residents
apprised of that information.
- Have local knowledge and regional contacts, and
the demonstrated ability to develop strategic relationships.
- Have an understanding of, and preferably
experience with, communities similar to Bainbridge Island. We have
relatively little crime and expect high standards for our public
officials. A different kind of leadership is needed here than in other
places.
Link to our letter here.
