AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin has officially launched a national search for the next chief of the Austin Police Department (APD).
The KVUE Defenders reported last week that the city will rely on Mosaic Public Partners, which it will pay about $60,000, to look for candidates nationally. The city has worked with Mosaic to develop a profile of the type of police chief it wants next – and now the public can see just what it's looking for.
On Wednesday, Mosaic posted the job listing for APD chief, which lists criteria for the position.
Austin's next police chief will report to an assistant city manager and will be accountable for the day-to-day operations of the department, including policies and procedures. According to the posting, the chief's executive leadership team includes a chief of staff and five assistant chiefs of police.
Austin is looking for a candidate with at least a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public or business administration, or a related field. They must also have at least 10 years of "progressively responsible work in police administration," with at least five years as a "bona fide law enforcement officer."
The posting states that the most competitive candidates will have direct experience as a police chief in a large city with "issues that are similarly complex to those in Austin." They will also have the ability to forge relationships with Austin's many diverse communities and should have a "sound understanding of the history of institutional racism in policing" and work to provide public safety services equitably while also advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion, including within APD.
Top candidates for the chief position will also have experience working to build "strong and healthy labor-management relationships" and will take advantage of Austin's "innovative and progressive spirit and strive to set APD as the national leader in public safety."
APD has been without a permanent chief since last September, when former Chief Joseph Chacon stepped down after about two-and-a-half years on the job. Since then, Robin Henderson has served as interim chief. She has said she will evaluate the job posting and decide her next steps.
Austin's new city manager, T.C. Broadnax, has said hiring a permanent chief is one of his first priorities.
"Public safety is of paramount importance, not just to me and the Mayor and City Council, but to Austin as a whole. My commitment to this community is to find the absolute best candidate for this critical role," Broadnax said. "I want to ensure that I bring forward someone who will build trust and foster a culture of transparency and accountability."
Candidates must submit a cover letter and résumé no later than Monday, June 10. Mosaic will also be gathering input from the public through a survey, set to be released next week, that will remain open until the posting closes.
The city said it aims to have candidates identified shortly after the posting closes and will begin the interview process soon after. Interview panels will include city leaders, community members and law enforcement personnel, and the city will also schedule a meet-and-greet community event with the finalists.
The posting does not list a salary for the next police chief but says it will be competitive. Chacon earned about $250,000 in the role.