The City of Frederick is currently conducting a search for the Chief of Police of the Frederick Police Department. To support the search, the City will be engaging the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to serve as consultants; an external search committee to engage various community stakeholders and work with the IACP in reviewing the first round of applicants, and an internal selection committee to assist the Mayor in conducting a final review of the applicants. This site will be updated as the search process continues.
Search Process - Currently in Phase Three (last updated 1/13/2021)
All feedback (community and FOP) has been received, compiled, and reviewed. Background investigations are currently underway and expected to be completed by early February.
Phase Three (November/December)
- Mayor O’Connor and the internal selection committee will review the search committee’s recommendations, conduct final interviews, and select finalists
- Finalists will meet with community stakeholders: Finalists announced on 12/30/2020 (read news alert)
- Community Forum - Tuesday, January 5, 2021
- Finalists Jason Lando and Cleveland Spruill shared their views on community policing during a recent community forum. Questions were submitted by the community and then presented to the candidates by moderator Whitney Hahn. The finalists also met virtually with members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91.
- Feedback is requested from those who viewed (live or recorded) the community forum presentations.
- Mayor O’Connor selects his final candidate for consideration and approval by the Board of Aldermen.
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Phase One (September/October)
Completed Virtual Community Feedback Sessions.
Consistent with the City’s determination that there will no in-person meetings, virtual community feedback sessions were used to garner feedback.
Phase Two (October/November)
- External search committee and IACP conduct a preliminary review of applicants and determine the first round of interviewees
- External search committee and IACP complete the first round of interviews
- External search committee submits candidate recommendations to Mayor O’Connor
External Search Committee Public Meetings:
December 17, 2020 - Recording | Minutes pending
December 12, 2020 - Recording | Closed Session
December 11, 2020 - Recording | Closed Session
December 10, 2020 - Recording | Closed Session
December 4, 2020 - Recording
November 19, 2020 (8AM) - Recording | Closed Session
November 12, 2020 - Recording
November 5, 2020 - Recording | Minutes
October 29, 2020 - Recording | Minutes
October 22, 2020 - Recording | Minutes
October 15, 2020 - Recording | Minutes
October 8, 2020 Meeting - Recording | Minutes
October 1, 2020 Meeting - Recording | Minutes
External Search Committee
- Teresa Bean, Education Representative, Chair
- Kavonte Duckett, Human Services Representative, Vice-Chair
- Derek Shackelford, Alderman
- Julia Schaeffer, Resident
- Kiesha Edmonds, Housing Services Representative
- Willie Ollie, Resident
- Danielle Doll, Business Community Representative
- Eliezer Valentin-Castanon, Religious Community Representative
- Nkem Wellington, Resident
- Sgt. Jonathan Shatlock, FPD Representative
- Chelsea Kadish, Legal Community Representative
- Karen Paulson, Staff Liaison
- Gayon Sampson, Staff Liaison
Engaged Community Groups
To enhance the community engagement effort, search committee members have reached out to 65+ organizations that are broadly representative of the Frederick community, encouraging them to provide input on the search for a new Police Chief. The list of organizations was compiled by committee members, who represent a broad cross-section of the community and consultation with the Office of the Mayor. It is by no means exhaustive, and the committee welcomes additions. Please contact Gayon Sampson, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, at gsampson@cityoffrederickmd.gov to suggest additional organizations.
AARCH |
Alan P. Linton Emergency Shelter |
American Legion FSK Post 111 |
Arc of Frederick County |
Asian American Center of Frederick |
Ausherman Family Foundation |
Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County |
Centro Hispano de Frederick |
Chamber of Commerce Frederick County |
Children of Incarcerated Children |
City Youth Matrix |
Community Foundation of Frederick County |
Congregations of the Jewish Faith |
Criminal Defense Attorney Association |
Delaplaine Foundation Inc. |
Dept. of Emergency Preparedness Frederick Co. |
Division of Fire & Rescue Services Frederick Co. |
Downtown Frederick Partnership |
East Frederick Rising |
Federated Charities |
Frederick Alumni Chapters of Black Fraternities and Sororities |
Frederick Arts Council |
Frederick Center |
Frederick Community College |
Frederick County Bar Association |
Frederick County Commission on Disabilities |
Frederick County Department of Health |
Frederick County Human Relations Commission |
Frederick County Public Defender |
Frederick County Public Schools (TJHS and FHS) |
Frederick County State's Attorney |
Frederick Elks Lodge #684 |
Frederick Nonprofit Alliance |
Frederick Rescue Mission |
Frederick United |
Frederick's March for Justice |
Friends of Baker Park |
Friends of Mullinix Park |
Friends of Waterford Park |
FSK Lions Club |
Golden Mile Alliance |
Heartly House |
Hood College |
Housing Authority of the City of Frederick |
I Believe in Me Inc |
Jack and Jill of America, Western Md Chapter |
Lions Club of Frederick |
Madame CJ Walker Temple #509 |
Maryland School for the Deaf |
Mental Health Association of Frederick County |
Ministerial Associations & Area Congregations |
Mountain City Elks Lodge #382 |
NAACP Frederick County Branch |
Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs |
RISE Coalition |
Rotary Club of Carroll Creek |
Rotary Club of Frederick |
South Corridor Group of NAC 11 |
South End Coalition |
Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland |
SURJ of Frederick |
The City of Frederick - All Employees |
The City of Frederick - Department of Housing and Human Services |
The City of Frederick - Economic Development |
The City of Frederick - Youth Advisory Council |
The City of Frederick NACs |
The Freedom Center |
The Scott Key Center |
Tourism Council of Frederick County |
United Way of Frederick County |
VFW Post 3285 |
Way Station |
YMCA of Frederick County |