City Manager Christian Clegg announced that Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry will retire this coming spring and invited residents to help shape the profile of the next chief.

"Our chief of police, Greg Terry, after 6 years serving as chief and many more years on the force, has announced his retirement this coming spring," Clegg said. He added that "Chief Terry has been an incredible public servant, and he has served with grace, integrity, and the highest of moral character." The remarks were delivered in a city message addressed to Bakersfield residents.

Clegg said the chief's job is "an important role as we look to hire a new chief" and asked the community for input on what qualities the city should prioritize. "I want your feedback as a community. What should I be looking for in a chief of police?" he asked.

To gather that feedback, Clegg said he will hold two listening sessions on Dec. 9: an in-person meeting at City Council Chambers at noon and a virtual session over Microsoft Teams at 7 p.m. He invited residents to "come and share with me your thoughts and ideas about what I should be looking for in our next chief of police."

The announcement did not include a timeline for the recruitment process, details about interim command arrangements, or information about whether the city will use a national search firm. Those items were not specified in the city message.

The next procedural steps are expected to be shaped by the input gathered at the listening sessions; Clegg did not announce any formal hiring timetable during the message.