Police commission hires retained search firm, schedules special meeting to shape chief search

The San Francisco Police Commission on July 16 formalized a recruitment process to find the next police chief, approving a timeline presented by Ralph Anderson & Associates and scheduling a special meeting Aug. 13 to review the job brochure and community outreach plan.

Commissioners voted to engage Ralph Anderson & Associates to assist with the executive recruitment, and Department of Human Resources Director Carol Eisen and the firm outlined a timeline that aims to begin community outreach and open the application period in early-to-mid August. Heather Rentschler, president of Ralph Anderson & Associates, said the firm will run a California-focused search with national outreach and will solicit community input through multiple meetings, a written survey and an open email inbox for comments.

Rentschler told the commission the firm will contact each commissioner individually for input to shape the job brochure and said the firm will publish a community-meeting schedule by early August. Retired Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn, participating as the firm's on-team advisor, said the search will include both internal department candidates and external applicants and that finalist interviews would be in-person in October. The commission aims to nominate up to three finalists to the mayor's office this fall, with the mayor making the final appointment.

Commissioners and staff discussed outreach logistics. Commissioner Scott asked that the firm and city schedule meetings at times and places convenient for community groups and youth organizations. Rentschler said the firm will offer evening meetings and a survey available in multiple languages; the firm named Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian and Vietnamese as languages used previously. Commissioners and staff agreed to open the survey and a comments email in early August and to circulate the draft brochure to commissioners before launch.

The commission set a special meeting for Aug. 13 to receive a consolidated draft brochure and to authorize posting of the job announcement. Rentschler said the firm will accept applications through early September and will present a screened slate for the commission's executive-session review in September and October.

Why it matters: The search and the community outreach plan shape which candidates see the job posting and affect how community priorities are reflected in the next police chief's mandate. Commissioners emphasized broad outreach to neighborhood groups, nonprofits and district stakeholders so the commission can factor public input into the final selection of finalists for the mayor.

Looking ahead: Ralph Anderson & Associates will return with a revised timeline and the draft brochure at the Aug. 13 special meeting. The commission will use the firm's community survey results, meeting summaries and commissioner input to inform candidate screening and interview questions.