Police Chief's need to be held accountable for incidents when they happen, not once every four years. The role of police chief also needs to be absent of politics, which an elected chief/sheriff is not. Current election policy states that candidates must also reside within the City of Santa Clara, this limits a potential pool of candidates to the most unsavory of officers currently employed by SCPD and the City.
Both roles are simply ceremonial - and in fact do nothing. Which is why she wanted to eliminate both a few years ago. But, now it seems to me as if Mayor Gillmor only wants them now because they fall in her favor and will use this outcome as campaign fodder in upcoming elections.
As a member of the salary setting commission, I've had the opportunity to listen and learn about the elected roles in the city. The professional training and development that goes into the police department is a critical element in the operation excellence exhibited by the department. I support making the Police Chief a professional position, with a job description, qualifications, and training plan that makes career progression in the department like other departments in the Bay Area.
By court order, the City created Districts to remedy a form of racism, but now the City Council is in the process of ignoring its own Task Force on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, which recommends keeping an elected City Police Chief and an elected City Clerk. If, indeed, the Council does ignore its Task Force, this action will provide plenty of interesting campaign fodder in upcoming District elections.
Police Chief's need to be held accountable for incidents when they happen, not once every four years. The role of police chief also needs to be absent of politics, which an elected chief/sheriff is not. Current election policy states that candidates must also reside within the City of Santa Clara, this limits a potential pool of candidates to the most unsavory of officers currently employed by SCPD and the City.
Both roles are simply ceremonial - and in fact do nothing. Which is why she wanted to eliminate both a few years ago. But, now it seems to me as if Mayor Gillmor only wants them now because they fall in her favor and will use this outcome as campaign fodder in upcoming elections.
As a member of the salary setting commission, I've had the opportunity to listen and learn about the elected roles in the city. The professional training and development that goes into the police department is a critical element in the operation excellence exhibited by the department. I support making the Police Chief a professional position, with a job description, qualifications, and training plan that makes career progression in the department like other departments in the Bay Area.
By court order, the City created Districts to remedy a form of racism, but now the City Council is in the process of ignoring its own Task Force on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, which recommends keeping an elected City Police Chief and an elected City Clerk. If, indeed, the Council does ignore its Task Force, this action will provide plenty of interesting campaign fodder in upcoming District elections.