Candidates for Bellingham Police Chief will be introduced to the public at a virtual meeting on March 17, 2022, as part of the City’s commitment to involving the community in selecting Bellingham’s next top law enforcement officer.
The virtual public forum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 17, 2022. At the forum, each candidate will provide a brief introduction and answer questions selected from those provided by community members during the public feedback process. More details and all written comments received so far are available on the Police Chief Selection page of the City’s Engage Bellingham site.
“We are eager to introduce semi-final candidates as part of our commitment to involving the community in selecting our new Police Chief,” Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood said. “Like so many communities across the nation, we see the years ahead as transformational for law enforcement and public safety. Public feedback will help shape this work and is providing us with valuable insight as we consider candidates for the Police Chief position.”
Fleetwood said 13 applications were received by the deadline earlier this month. Profiles of semi-finalist candidates who are expected to be introduced on March 17 will be made available prior to the scheduled forum.
A second Police Chief recruitment was initiated early in 2022 after an earlier process concluded without selecting a new chief. (More details: Mayor announces a new Police Chief search will be held) Interim Police Chief Flo Simon has said she will remain in the position through May 2022.
The Bellingham Police Chief reports to the Mayor and provides leadership and direction to the employees who are responsible for law enforcement services in the City of Bellingham. The department currently has 193 budgeted FTEs, including dispatch and civilian staff, with 168 FTEs currently filled.
