A handful of St. Paul residents shared Wednesday what they see as essential qualifications for the next police chief at a public hearing before the City Council.
Some said a background in mental health or social work should be required. One speaker said the new chief should be a proponent of community policing. Nearly all said they should have a proven record of collaborating with diverse cultures.
"We all deserve to be safe in our communities no matter whether we are white, Black or brown," Arline Datu said in a letter to the council.
Under St. Paul's charter, the City Council sets the minimum qualifications for the job. On Wednesday, the council heard from members of ISAIAH, a coalition of St. Paul congregations and mosques advocating for racial equity, affordable housing and other social justice causes.
The council will consider public feedback, possibly make some revisions and is expected to finalize that list of qualifications this month.
Council President Amy Brendmoen said this is just the start of the selection process. The minimum qualifications, she said, are about "quantifiable" metrics.
"We have a large opportunity in front of us to have a robust conversation about the attributes we are looking for," Brendmoen said. "When we publish our qualifications, we are really trying to cast a wide net to get the largest pool of candidates that are qualified."
Part of that larger process includes formation of the St. Paul Chief of Police Examining Committee, an advisory board appointed by the City Council that will review applications and recommend five candidates to Mayor Melvin Carter. He will appoint the chief for a six-year term starting in late June.
