THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 16, 1996 TAG: 9610160392
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 40 lines
City staffers and a citizens panel interviewed the top five contenders for police chief Tuesday, but no decision had been announced by late in the day on who would get the job.
The four out-of-town candidates were given tours of the city and shown around City Hall and the Police Department. Their names were not released.
Acting Chief William A. Freeman, the fifth candidate, is the only local applicant to make the final cut, according to city officials.
At least one finalist is from out of state. All are male, and two - including Freeman - are African Americans. The others are white.
City Manager Myles E. Standish, who will make the final selection, said the position is so important to the future of the growing city that he wanted people outside of his staff to help with the interviewing. The approach had not been used in the city before, he said.
The panel included retired Circuit Court Judge James C. Godwin; the Rev. Carlton R. Upton, pastor of Tabernacle Christian United Church of Christ; Commissioner of Revenue Thomas A. Hazelwood; and Norfolk Police Chief Melvin C. High. Marie A. Dodson, the city's personnel director, and Cynthia D. Rohlf, assistant to the city manager, also served on the panel.
No date has been set for naming the new chief, who will command the 116-member department.
More than 100 applicants from across the country and at least one from Canada were initially screened by Municipal Advisers Inc. - a Virginia Beach consulting firm. The company narrowed the field to about 10 and interviewed those candidates by videotape to save on the expense of bringing them to Suffolk.
Freeman, a Suffolk native with 25 years' experience in law enforcement, has been acting chief since July 1. Former Chief Gilbert F. Jackson retired June 30. by CNB