After publicly apologizing for recent cases of police misconduct to more than 50 community members at a meeting Monday, City Manager Russ Blackburn discussed future plans for the Gainesville Police Department.
"Over the past year, GPD has experienced a number of actions that don't reflect the character of our department," Blackburn said.
He said GPD plans to move forward from those actions by building a better and stronger department for the future.
The first step in this process, Blackburn said, will be to conduct an organizational review of GPD.
Blackburn has made a proposal to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, NOBLE, asking it for assistance in the investigations.
The review will look at the recruitment, interviewing, hiring, orientation and discipline processes.
After six GPD officers underwent internal investigations in the past year for unprofessional behavior, the review will be looking closely at interview questions and psychological tests administered to applicants to ensure the department hires people who reflect the Gainesville community's ideals, he said.
After the review is over, NOBLE will present findings to Blackburn and a focus group that will make recommendations for changes to GPD's command staff.
At the meeting, Blackburn also discussed the search for a new chief of GPD.
Twenty-four people have applied for the position, after a week of advertising, he said.
GPD's human resource department will pick the top 10 applicants and a selection committee will narrow that down to four or five, Blackburn said.
"Expect a very intensive, painful process that draws out the best in the candidate and puts them under the maximum amount of stress," he said.
Blackburn is also planning a public reception where Gainesville citizens will be given the change to meet the finalists and ask them difficult questions.
When the finalists are asked to leave the room, Blackburn will talk to citizens about whom they think will best fill the position.
Although current Chief Norman Botsford has agreed to continue his duties as chief until Nov. 1., Blackburn said he will make the decision for a new chief in early August.
The meeting was sponsored by the African American Accountability Alliance.
