St. Paul holding public forums for police chief candidates this week
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Five candidates are hoping to become the next top cop in Minnesota's Capitol city.
St. Paul is narrowing down options for its new chief of police. And for the first time, we're hearing from the finalists.
On Tuesday, Mayor Melvin Carter led a discussion with the finalists, asking questions submitted from residents.
Of the five finalists, four already serve in the department in different roles. The fifth finalist currently serves in the Philadelphia Police Department.
Despite their differences, all five shared similar thoughts when it came to collaborating with the community to stop crime.
Pamela Barragan is SPPD's unit commander for Community Partnership.
"We need to work together. We need to open the spaces and invite people to come and be at the table. It's not us against the community or us against them. We have to work together in order to move forward," Barragan said.
Kurtis Hallstrom is senior commander for SPPD's Eastern District.
"We need to build the relationships with our communities so they trust enough to tell us who the victimizers are in our world. We need to have those relationships. People know who's causing harm in our community," Hallstrom said.
Axel Henry is SPPD's commander in the Narcotics, Financial Intelligence and Human Trafficking Division.
"The new way that our public is asking us to police our communities is to police it with us," Henry said.
Stacy Murphy is SPPD's assistant chief.
"It's our responsibility to help maintain that safety, but it's the responsibility of all of us to work together to find those solutions. Law enforcement doesn't have all the answers. We never have," Murphy said.
Dr. Jacqueline Bailey-Davis is part of the Philadelphia Police Department.
"The only approach to take is the political approach where there is one representation from the community, from the citizens. Your voice. Your voices being heard," Bailey-Davis said.
The second forum will be held Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Event Center. Mayor Carter is expected to make his pick in the next few weeks.
