With the leak from the city manager‘s office, err, excuse us, news today that Toby Futrell’s narrowed her search for the Austin Police Department’s next chief to two candidates – California Highway Patrol Chief Art Acevedo and El Paso Police Chief Richard Wiles – Austin American Civil Liberties Union President Debbie Russell shares their scores on a matrix of community concerns her group devised. The findings are here.
With the finalists’ scores good and close, Russell describes what held back the other finalists:
For [former Chattanooga, Tenn., Chief Jimmie Dotson], it was often said his conservative nature isn’t a good fit in our progressive city which, at this time, requires some fresh, creative ideas. His comfort level with the community didn’t seem to cross all lines. While he had some excellent answers at times, he didn’t have the level of engagement we sought.
For [APD acting Chief Cathy Ellison] … a lot of people responded well to her energy level and seemingly direct answers, but two things stood out: 1. she was the only candidate who said APD didn’t need any real change (she also denied institutional racism within) and 2. she was the only candidate who didn’t emphatically respond in positive to the question, “would you fire an officer for lying?” All the other said “yes!” or “I have!” while she said “it depends.” Enough said.
And besides, who doesn’t know about Bring It On?
This article appears in June 8 • 2007.