Austin's city manager wants "additional time" to consider police chief finalists

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The selection process for Austin's next police chief will take just a little bit longer, with City Manager T.C. Broadnax announcing on Friday he's going to take more time to select a final candidate.

"This position is too critical to our Police Department, the City organization as a whole, and this community to rush," Broadnax said in a statement. "Therefore, I’m going to take additional time to consider our two very qualified candidates before making a final decision."

Broadnax had been indicating that a final candidate could be selected this week, in order to present to City Council members for their approval during a special called meeting next Tuesday.

Council members have budget work sessions scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday next week, but any action on the police chief position would need to be posted as a special called meeting with an agenda item. That timeline typically requires items to be posted with 72 hours notice, under state law.

"We worked diligently to find the best candidates possible and to provide our community members with the opportunity to tell us what qualities they wanted to see in a Chief of Police and provide their feedback as we narrowed the field," said Broadnax. "I'm currently reviewing that feedback, as well as input from our stakeholder interview panels and City Council."