PLEASE READ THIS NEW ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE CORDOVA TIMES
Ok here we go lets see what 420 members have to saY...???
In, The Cordova Times, Prince William Sound's oldest newspaper...!
Today DEC 13/07
City officials interview applicants for police chief...
As Cordova moves through the process of hiring is next chief of police,there is consensus among community members that the next chief needs to have strong leadership and management skills and the ability to develop a positive and personal relationship with the town....
On Sept. 21,Ron Bishop resigned after 2 1/2 years as Cordova police chief to move to Anchorage.
The new chief will supervise a staff of about six, including officers and dispatch.
Following criminal and professioal background checks,four candidates were selected to be interviewed in person. A consenesus recommendation has been made to the city manager, and negotiations are under way with the top candidate.
"We are looking for someone who has a zest for living in Alaska and understands that the town is their client," Hahn said.
Hahn is seeking a chief who gets out from behind the desk, works to protect residents and to develop positive cooperative relationships with the community members and across city departments.
"The chief also needs to get involved with the schools so that kids know that we think they are important," Hahn said.
The city manger wants to see more Andy Taylor and less Miami Vice:"The chief needs to be an experienced manager,generally affable and a person who desires to do a good job on behalf of the community."
Among community members, the priorities were univeersal: street presence, leadership,respect, responsiveness, open communication to solve problems in a friendly, cooperative manner.
Cordovans also consistenely put priority on creating a sense of trust and confidentiality from dispatch to response.
"We need the chief to really know us as a community and as individuals," said Alicia Madison, owner to the Killer Whale Cafe. "Cordova is a gorgeous town that offers a true Alaskan lifestyle. The chief needs to be part if it as chief in uniform, but also as someone who attends basketball games and other events as a friend and neighbor."
"Police officers should be peace officers first and foremost,"said Mimi Brigs, board member, Cordova Chamber of Commerce.
"They need to have the mindset of helping the community and the need to create a positive presence by taking the time to see what kind of town we are and bydeveloping a work style that is splecific to Cordova.
"Communication is the key to understanding what is going on in our community. A chief who makes open, positive communication a personal priorty will set the tone for the entire town,"Briggs said.
Mary Barrow, owner Laura's Liquors, agreed.
"Being chief is a tough job, but an outgoing community-minded philosophy will help create allies and build the support needed to get the job done,"Barrow said.
Barrow sees opportunities for the chief and police department to residents through outreach, training and personable inquiry into the assistance needs of business owners and residents.
"Leadership and experience in th chief are top,"said Marin Moe, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce. "Leadership provides officers with the motivation and direction they need to be responsive, effective and sensitive."
In addition to working style and street presence, the issues of alcohol abuse and domestic violence were priorities.
Residents expressed the need for enforcement but also the need for compassion and treatment of root problems when dealing with chronic offenders.
"We know who these people are and we need to do more than put them in a car and take them home . Sometimes charging people and taking them to court is the only way to get them into treatment they need," the resident said.
On the issue of drugs, Cordovans were generally inclined towards tolerance of marijuana use but emphatic about methamphetamine.
"We need a calm and focused police force that deals with the meth problem", said Mark Steen, owner of Eclips, a barbershop.
One local mother who spoke off the record about the meth problem said,"Everyone know who these people are and I have told them personally to stay away from my children. it is not safe for me to deal with these people, but I have had no choice.
Many residents were pleasantly surprised to learn that a reception was held to meet the candidates, when in the past the city manager has gone ahead and hired a chief without community input.
"When the new chief arrives, a well- publicized open house will help get things off to a strong start,"said Kristin Smith, executive director of the Copper River Watershed Project. "It will be important to cover the bases through radio, the scanner and direct mail so that all members of the community are reached and have an opportunity are reached and have an opportunity to participate."
"Above all, Cordovans want the chief police officers to appreciate the opportunity to live hereto become part of the community.
"Asked how best to communicate this, Dave O"Brien, owner of Cordova Drug, responded, "We are living in paradise."
Here is 1 of the photo's that they say, show I was selling cannabis on this website...
MV...
