The City of Winston-Salem Prepares to Hire Its New Police Chief; but not without the help of community participation. “Having a leader for public safety is simply not an internal decision. We need the community to be a part of this process, we need community input, we need the community to participate and trust the process,” the deputy city manager said. Patrice Toney said. The city has narrowed the candidates down to four finalists since the hiring process began in September, according to Toney. The city plans to announce the names of the finalists on Friday. The city will host a public forum on Thursday. Attendees will be able to submit and ask questions for a panel to ask the finalist police chiefs. The city will also provide an update on public safety. “We’ve lost 140 officers. We have some recruitment retention issues that are national issues. But what people will want to know is what the strategy is for the next police chief.” Tony said. A panel of community leaders will ask finalists questions submitted by residents in a second forum the following week. , we have someone connected to the neighborhood associations, so it will be a broad section of our community,” Toney said. The first forum is Thursday, January 19, at St. John CME Church. 350 NW Crawford Place at 6 pm Residents who can’t make it to the meeting will be able to submit questions online.The second forum is Wednesday, January 25 at the Salem Lake Marina, 815 Salem Lake Road at 6:00 pm to the neighborhoods.And that’s why I’m We open up, so we need to hear the voices.” Tony said. Former Police Chief Catrina Thompson retired in December 2022. President Joe Biden nominated her to become US Marshal. “She’s elevated in her retirement, in her career, so she’s just moving into another phase. But he’s done a tremendous job for our police department. He worked with the Winston-Salem Police Department for 30 years, which is remarkable.” Tony said. Thompson has served as police chief since 2017. The city plans to make a final hiring decision by the end of the month.
The City of Winston-Salem Prepares to Hire Its New Police Chief; but not without the help of community involvement.
“Having a leader for public safety is simply not an internal decision. We need the community to be a part of this process, we need community input, we need the community to participate and trust the process,” the deputy city manager said. Patrice Toney said.
The city has narrowed the candidates down to four finalists since the hiring process began in September, according to Toney. The city plans to announce the names of the finalists on Friday.
The city will host a public forum on Thursday. Attendees will be able to submit and ask questions for a panel to ask the finalist police chiefs. The city will also provide an update on public safety.
“We’ve lost 140 officers. We have some recruitment retention issues that are national issues. But what people will want to know is what the strategy is for the next police chief.” Tony said.
A panel of community leaders will ask the finalists questions submitted by residents in a second forum the following week.
“We’ll have faith-based organizations, we’ve got mental health, we’ve got young people, someone on the youth youth advisory council, we’ve got someone connected to neighborhood associations, so it’s going to be a broad section of our community,” Toney said.
The first forum is Thursday, January 19 at St. John CME Church. 350 NW Crawford Place at 6 p.m.
Residents unable to attend the meeting will be able to submit questions online.
The second forum is Wednesday, January 25 at the Salem Lake Marina, 815 Salem Lake Road at 6 pm
“We hope the community gets involved, we hope the community has questions that maybe we as city staff wouldn’t think are important to communities, to neighborhoods. And that’s why we opened it up, why we need to hear the voices.” Tony said.
Former Police Chief Catrina Thompson retired in December 2022. President Joe Biden nominated her to become US Marshal.
“She’s elevated in her retirement, in her career, so she’s just moving into another phase. But she’s done a tremendous job for our police department. She worked with the Winston-Salem Police Department for 30 years, which is remarkable”. Tony said.
Thompson has served as police chief since 2017.
The city plans to make a final hiring decision by the end of the month.