Scott Criticizes Police Chief Search Process

Louisville Metro Councilwoman Attica Woodson Scott, D-1, lambasted the search process for the city's next police chief on Monday for being flawed and ignoring community input.Sixteen candidates are vying to fill the position with most having a connection to Louisville. The Southern Police Institute will review the applications via a committee over the next several weeks and select five finalists, but no public meetings with the candidates will be called during either process despite council members being asked to reach out to residents for input.A spokeswoman for the panel told the Courier-Journal SPI will meet with select ministerial groups, Fraternal Order of Police members and civil rights groups, but not constituents and that doesn't please the council's newest member."Yes, the police chief search process is flawed," Scott said via her Twitter account. "We wasted time and we would be naïve to think that real community input will be respected."The police institute will use questions gathered from the council forums to interview the candidates. The top five finalists will receive background checks and be interviewed by Mayor Greg Fischer, who says he is pleased with the crop.But Scott also questioned the mayor about why no public forums with the candidates are being held and compared the city's chief search to the one for superintendent of the Jefferson County public school system."@louisvillemayor Why do you fear holding public forums for the police chief candidates similar to the superintendent search process?" Scott asked.Fischer hopes name a new chief by April 1.