Bellingham renews search for new police chief with these qualities
Bellingham continues to look for a new police chief after rejecting all four finalists in a nationwide search last year amid a citywide commitment to “reimagine” policing in the wake of the 2020 racial justice movement and a staffing crunch that’s gutted its special units.
Chief Flo Simon has been serving in an interim capacity since Chief David Doll retired in January 2021, and Simon has said that she intends to follow suit once a new chief is chosen.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood said the job was posted again the first week of January, and that community input was being sought through the city’s Engage Bellingham website.
“As part of that process we are seeking community feedback about characteristics and priorities we should be considering during review of candidate applications and during interviews with finalists,” Fleetwood told the City Council in a Jan. 10 meeting.
“The public feedback that we collected during the first selection process will be used as well,” he said.
More than 170 comments were received at Engage Bellingham during the last process.
Bellingham residents wanted their new police chief to have “a demonstrated history of carrying out reforms elsewhere” as well as “being tough on crime” and “success in building an antiracist support system that respects and protects all community members,” according to comments listed anonymously on Engage Bellingham.
Meanwhile, the City Council has committed to establishing a program that would send social workers or other unarmed professionals to calls for behavioral problems or other issues that don’t require armed police.
Police are also adapting to laws passed by the Legislature in 2021 that focus on accountability and limit the use of force and certain tactics.
In recent years, the department has faced criticism because of officers involved in violent incidents and abuse of a man with mental disabilities.
“The city of Bellingham is seeking an experienced, transformational leader to serve as its next police chief for the Bellingham Police Department,” the city said in its job posting.
“The individual in this role will be expected to lead the department in a time of reflection and community outreach that will reimagine the way the department operates and serves the residents of Bellingham. The ideal candidate will have experience successfully leading a police agency through significant change using strategies that promote trust, reflect community values and enhance public safety,” the posting said.
Salary range was listed as $162,720 to $196,884 a year plus benefits.
An application period closes Feb. 6, but the job will be open until filled.
Bellingham’s police chief is part of the city’s management team, reporting to Fleetwood.
Police have a budget of $70.4 million for 2021-2022 and the chief will supervise 188.4 “full-time equivalent” employees, including office staff, dispatchers and 122 commissioned officers, according to the job description.
But there are 13 vacancies, and special units currently are not staffed, Deputy Chief Don Almer told The Bellingham Herald last week.
Only the Patrol and Investigations divisions are operating because of recent retirements, dismissals from a citywide COVID vaccination mandate, officers on military service, medical leaves and officers attending the police academy, Almer said.
That leaves the city without its downtown bicycle patrols, motorcycle traffic officers, behavioral health officers, and the gang and anti-crime units, among others, Almer said.
Staffing concerns might worsen, because the department is facing a possible silver tsunami of retirements over the next several years, he said.
Officers responded to more than 73,000 calls for service in 2020, according to the city. Police fielded 74,647 calls to 911 in 2021, and officers responded to 60,842 of those, meaning they were a valid call, Almer said.
That’s an average of 204 calls a day, the Police Department said on its Facebook page.
This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
