Panels, community to interview candidates on Tuesday
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Friday, September 16, 2016 at 12:45 p.m.
Members of the police chief selection committee that evaluated semifinalist applicants have recommended four candidates to be interviewed for the job.
John Bruce of Frisco, Texas, Robert “Bob” Lehner of Elk Grove, Calif., Craig Meidl of Spokane, and Dominic Rizzi of Yakima, Wash. have been invited to interview with four panels and at a community forum on Tuesday. Panel interviews will run all day. Individual meetings will also be scheduled with the media.
The community forum will run from 6-8 pm in the gymnasium at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. Written questions will be accepted at the forum and in advance via email. Questions for the candidates will be selected randomly and read by moderators Dr. Joe Albert, co-founder of Gonzaga University’s Comprehensive Leadership Program, and Rachelle Strawther, CLP program coordinator.
Bruce is the chief of the Frisco Police Department. He has more than 29 years of law enforcement, including the last three as chief. Bruce holds a master’s of public affairs and bachelor of art in sociology, both from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Lehner, chief of the Elk Grove Police Department, has nearly four decades of law enforcement experience and was appointed to lead the department in 2008. He holds an MBA and a bachelor of science in business administration, both from the University of Arizona.
Meidl has been with the Spokane Police Department since 1994 and currently serves as interim police chief. He holds a master’s degree from Gonzaga University in organizational leadership with an emphasis on servant leadership and a bachelor of arts in law and justice.
Rizzi, currently chief of the Yakima Police Department, has nearly 35 years of law enforcement experience, including a 25-year-career with the Chicago Police Department. He has a master’s of science in public safety administration from Calumet College of St. Joseph and a bachelor of arts in criminal social justice.
Interview panels will focus on community policing, leadership, community engagement, and business operations and finance. Questions from the public can be submitted in advance to policechiefsearch@spokanecity.org or in writing at the public forum.
