Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Matt Clark says he was up for the job as Bellevue’s next police chief, but withdrew himself from consideration for family and personal reason earlier this month. City Manager Brad Miyake informed city employees by email Monday that none of the five candidates flown in to meet the community and Bellevue officials last month were determined right for the job.
Following former Police Chief Linda Pillo’s retirement in April, the city started a nationwide search for a replacement, bringing former Chief Jim Montgomery out of retirement to fill the position in the interim. Two public comment sessions were held ahead of the selection of five finalists, however, fewer than 10 people attended. The five candidates met with city employees, councilmembers, community leaders and the public the next two days.
“After reviewing all the feedback, as well as my own analysis of how these candidates would fit with the community, Leadership Team, Police Department and overall organization, I have concluded that we will not extend a final offer to any of the candidates,” Miyake wrote in an email to staff on Monday. “Instead, we will be going back out for recruitment, likely with a targeted approach that will ensure that the next process will yield the candidates we are looking for to lead the Police Department.”
Clark states in an email to the Reporter, “Shortly after our visit to Bellevue, I received a call from the HR Director informing me that the city intended to pursue me as their candidate and begin a background process with the intent to work towards a job offer. Unfortunately, I decided to withdraw from the process for family and personal reasons on Nov. 6th, 2014. I would like to thank the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Police Department for their hospitality and consideration.
The four other finalists passed up for the position were Bellevue Police Deputy Chief Jim Jolliffe, Seattle Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Metz, Simi Valley Police Chief Mitch McCann in California and Austin Police Assistant Chief Raul Munguia.
Montgomery, 70, has agreed to stay on as interim police chief until a new recruitment process is launched by the city. He retired from the BPD in 2007, after serving as police chief the past 10 years.
A city spokesperson told the Reporter Monday no more information regarding Miyake’s decision not to offer the job to the five police chief finalist would be made available at this time. The Reporter has contacted Miyake for comment, and will update this story, if it becomes available.
The city hired the Mercer Group to assist in the police chief search process, and was paid $10,670 in September. An invoice for another $10,915 has been received by the city, but will soon be paid. It remains unclear if the city will retain the Mercer Group for the second search.
“Instead, we will be going back out for recruitment, likely with a targeted approach that will ensure that the next process will yield the candidates we are looking for to lead the Police Department,” according to Miyake’s email to staff.
