How you can help pick the new Fresno Police chief

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A series of community meetings started Friday to get some input from the public about what they want in Fresno’s next police chief.

The meeting was hosted by Public Sector Search, the firm the city has hired to help with the recruitment process. The topics discussed during Friday’s meeting included what changes and accomplishments the public expects from the next police chief.

“I know that there’s a great deal of anticipation for this decision,” said Kenton Buckner with Public Sector Search. “In general, our searches take anywhere from 90 to 120 days. So I would expect that a decision will be made sometime in the early part of next year.”

This was the first of four virtual community meetings. Feedback was heard from community members.

“I think that it would be imperative for our next chief to do a deep dive on the entire force, to look at connections to subgroups like the Proud Boys and other entities that have popped up around this area,” said Matthew Gillian, a Fresno resident.

Topics like hate groups in Fresno as well as Fresno’s policing tactics were all brought up in the discussion.

The next three meetings will be held on the following dates and times:

• Oct. 19, at 10 a.m.
• Oct. 22, at 5:30 p.m.
• Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.

To access the meetings, click on the registration link here.

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