Santa Rosa to seek public input on new police chief hiring

Santa Rosa residents will have a say in the hiring of the next police chief.

City Manager Kathy Millison said Tuesday she would hold a community forum on the recruitment of a chief to replace Tom Schwedhelm, who retired in December.

Millison said she and a recruiter hired to assist in the search will solicit input from residents on the "challenges and opportunities that may face our new police chief" as well as the "competencies and characteristics of a new chief."

The information gathered will be incorporated into the job posting for the new position, she said.

The forum will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday in the Utilities Field Operations Building, 35 Stony Point Road.

Schwedhelm, who worked for the department for 31 years, announced his retirement plans in early October.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@ pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @citybeater.