State and Local Restrictions Create a Police Chief Hiring Challenge
For most police chief searches, the process is pretty straightforward. If so inclined, the city manager or Mayor just picks the police chief from an internal candidate pool. Usually, though, the job is advertised, and internal and external candidates apply. However, the hiring authority has no choice in some states and cities as the candidate pool is limited to internal candidates only. For example, the City of Akron's recent announcement that it will only consider internal candidates for the next chief of police highlights a significant challenge posed by a little-known state law. This law mandates that all vacancies above the entry-level in safety forces must be filled internally, a revelation that surfaced during legal consultations. Akron’s decision brings several challenges and considerations regarding local governance and police administration to light. Legal Restrictions and Local Governance The primary challenge stems from the legal straitjacket the city finds itself in due to state law. While the city charter usually allows some leeway, stating that promotions should occur internally "whenever practicable," it does not conflict significantly enough with state law to provide any room for maneuver. This legal backdrop restricts the city's ability to select its top officials based on a broader…
