What’s the status of Cedar Rapids’ police chief search?

CEDAR RAPIDS — After about eight months without a permanent police chief, the city of Cedar Rapids is narrowing a pool of finalists in its search for someone new to lead the police department.

Background

The city is looking to hire a new chief to succeed Wayne Jerman, who retired as chief in April after turning 66 in March and aging out of his certification. He reached a severance agreement with the city to retire after 10 years with the department and a 44-year career in law enforcement. Tom Jonker, the department’s deputy chief, was named interim chief.

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The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, which handles officer certifications, maintained that certifications must expire past age 65. Jerman was paid more than $188,000 a year.

The police chief oversees operations of the department that is made up of 270 full-time equivalents, according to the city budget. Cedar Rapids’ population is about 138,000.

In June, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved hiring Virginia-based International Association of Chiefs of Police as the consulting firm to assist with the search, for an amount not to exceed an expenditure of $62,650.

Cedar Rapids consulted with the leaders of more than 30 local organizations — including the Cedar Rapids school district, Advocates for Social Justice and Willis Dady Homeless Services — and surveyed the public to identify the qualities community members want in a new chief.

When city staff presented a hiring process plan in August to the Civil Service Commission, the panel identified key traits it would like to see in a new chief. Commission members indicated they wanted the chief to be someone who is transparent with data, concerned with the mental health of officers and community members, supportive of diversity-focused recruiting methods and has experience working in an accredited police department in a city comparable with Cedar Rapids.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz also has said the chief should lead with honesty and integrity, be experienced with a complex policing environment and bring new approaches. This person should also be willing to work with the entire community, within the city organization and beyond.

What’s happened since?

There are 17 applicants being reviewed, Pomeranz said. The applications will go to the Civil Service Commission under a process dictated by state civil service law.

When Jerman was selected as the department’s 43rd chief in October 2012, he was chosen from a field of 35 candidates. Though the city received about half as many applications this time, Pomeranz said “we’re happy with that response.” He said the consultant was satisfied with that number based on other nationwide searches.

“We very much look forward to receiving a list from the Civil Service Commission after that list is passed on to myself,” Pomeranz said. “We'll decide how many individuals we want to interview — probably four individuals that we’ll want to either interview or bring to Cedar Rapids depending on what the situation is of the individual. And the community will be involved in that process.”

City staff need to determine the format of community meetings, but Pomeranz said there will be opportunities for meet-and-greets and community involvement in the interviews.

Pomeranz said he, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and others will interview the candidates. He will make a recommendation to the mayor and City Council for their approval.

Though much of the process is defined by state law, Pomeranz said “where we're different is in emphasizing the community involvement.”

“We recognize that the police chief is so important to the city as far as the community knowing this individual and knowing what his or her priorities are, and how they want to address the community and the work that they do, so we're taking that seriously,” Pomeranz said.

Staff anticipate the interviews will take place shortly after Jan. 1, 2024. There could be a new chief announced by February, Pomeranz said.

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