The selection process for choosing Watertown’s next police chief has started, and residents will be able to voice their opinions to members of the Town Council.
Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced last month that the police chief will be selected after finalists are ranked using an assessment center. During that ranking process, the candidates will be asked to respond to a series of real world situations and scenarios.
Watertown residents will have an opportunity to tell the council what are important qualities in the next chief. That input will be take into account by the Town Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee when coming up with questions to be used in the assessment center, said Town Council President Mark Sideris at Wednesday’s Council meeting.
Sideris said residents will be able to give input at the Public Safety Committee meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.
The assessment center will be run by an independent firm hired by the town. Driscoll told the Council that the town has received two proposals from firms looking to conduct the assessment center.
Watertown Police captains and lieutenants are eligible to apply to be chief, Driscoll said in August, and the top three from the assessment center will be interviewed by the selection committee and the next chief will be appointed by Driscoll.