Search For San Jose Police Chief Puts Spotlight On The Independent Police Auditor
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - San Jose's City Manager wants to see a more proactive relationship between the Police Department and the office of the Independent Police Auditor.
That means there's been a late add to the questionnaire given to candidates hoping to be San Jose's next top cop. The 20th question deals specifically with the Independent Police Auditor.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
The question, added by the San Jose City Council, asked potential candidates how they intend to work with the IPA.
Judge LaDoris H. Cordell (Ret.) who holds the office, was thrilled.
"I am tremendously pleased that the City Manager has done this and very grateful that the councilmembers will now have this additional matter to bring up to whoever the finalist is."
Judge Cordell described it as critical that there be a collaborative relationship.
"We should not be adversaries. And it is very important that whoever leads this department sends a message to the officers and to the community that we are not the enemy, that we are a part of making this police department the best that it can be."
She summed it up as a chance for a fresh start.
"This is a brief window of opportunity with the selection of the police chief for this change to happen, and I see a sea change already happening."
"It's very important that leadership of the police department says to the community we recognize that police oversight is a part of San Jose's city government and we recognize that police oversight is absolutely critical to making sure that our officers are the best that they can be. So it's absolutely critical that we have a positive relationship with the next police chief."
San Jose's previous police chief, Rob Davis, retired in October 2010. The next chief could be named as early as next month.
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