The City of Austin is opening its ears to the locals, launching an all-call for citizen perspectives on the hunt for the town's new top cop. Austinites have until June 10 to weigh in on what makes a Police Chief worthy of the badge through an anonymous online survey reported by KXAN. "The survey, which closes on June 10, allows the public to share their preferences regarding the priorities and characteristics of Austin’s next Chief of Police. It also includes space to provide additional open-ended recommendations," the city said in a release, giving folks a shot to voice their slice of the story behind the badge.
Not just in English speakers, but also in Spanish, the survey opens a door to Austin's diverse voices, determined to pluck the next Chief of Police from the tree of civic-minded leadership. According to a CBS Austin article, the city's executive search consultant, Mosaic Public Partners, is shepherding the responses.
Mark your calendars; the selection process marches on post-June 10, shaping the field of candidates to suit up the crème de la crème for interviews. The process ain’t small talk over coffee—community members, law enforcement personnel, and City leadership are set to grill potential candidates as part of the interview panels, the city detailed.
In a dance of democracy, Austinites will also get face-to-face with finalists at a planned meet-and-greet, where handshakes and head nods could sway opinions in what could be one of the city’s most pivotal decisions. With the final selection in the hands of City Manager T.C. Broadnax and needing a nod from Mayor Kirk Watson and the city council, stakes peak as the gavel of confirmation balancings on the horizon, teeing up a new chapter of law and order for the city of Austin.
