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Search for new Chief of Police underway

City of Charlottesville plans to name successor before Longo steps down

<p>Chief of Police Tim Longo&nbsp;will step down May 1, after serving in the position for 15 years.&nbsp;</p>

Chief of Police Tim Longo will step down May 1, after serving in the position for 15 years. 

The City of Charlottesville is currently accepting applications for a new Chief of Police to replace current Chief Tim Longo, who will step down May 1. Longo has served in the position for 15 years and announced his resignation Nov. 23.

The application is open through Feb. 12 and is open to applicants nationwide. The City of Charlottesville plans to name a successor before Longo officially steps down.

According to the City of Charlottesville website, the new Chief of Police is expected to be a “visionary, dynamic leader” with “a deep commitment to relational policing, the practice of forming strong relationships with the people we serve from various walks of life.”

Miriam Dickler, director of Communications for the City of Charlottesville, explained the steps candidates must go through to ultimately be chosen as the Chief of Police.

City Manager Maurice Jones and a few other staff members will review applications submitted through on online process and select candidates to participate in a phone interview, Dickler said. After phone interviews, the top candidates will come to Charlottesville for a series of panel interviews. These panels consist of senior staff, the police department and a community panel.

The general public is encouraged to voice their opinions, Dickler said.

“There is an email account set up now… where people are welcome to submit their thoughts on what they would like to see in the next Chief of Police,” Dickler said.

The City Manager will then narrow down the candidates further before the City Council considers the final applicants, Dickler said. The City Council will voice its opinion on who its members believe is best fit for the position, but ultimately the City Manager will appoint the new Chief of Police.

City Council Member Kristin Szakos emphasized the importance of the new chief’s public relationships.

“We are really adamant that our department needs to be responsive to the public, developing relationships with people in the community,” Szakos said.

Even though a relationship with community is an important quality for the new Chief of Police, Szakos said she does not believe candidates outside of the area will be at a disadvantage.

“This is a national search and if someone is philosophically committed to being a community police chief then I think that is what they will do,” Szakos said.

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