Mohave Today

Chandler residents will have the opportunity to meet the candidates vying to become the next Chandler Police Chief on February 1st. The public gathering will take place at the Chandler City Hall Vision Gallery. City Manager Josh Wright expressed excitement about the pool of candidates, stating, "Working with our executive search firm, Mosaic Public Partners, we were fortunate to have more than 40 applicants from around the country for this opportunity to lead an outstanding police department in one of the safest large cities in the United States." The City Manager will ultimately make the hiring decision, in accordance with Chandler's voter-approved City Charter.

The five candidates for the position of Chandler Police Chief each bring unique experiences and qualifications. Bryan Chapman, Assistant Police Chief of the Phoenix Police Department, has 28 years of law enforcement experience and has served the City of Phoenix since 1999. Sergio Enriquez, recently retired as Assistant Chief of the Santa Ana Police Department, had a 28-year career in law enforcement and led various uniformed units. Sasha Larkin, Assistant Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, has 25 years of experience and oversees the Homeland Security and Investigative Services divisions. Dave Ramer, Assistant Police Chief of the Chandler Police Department, has been with the department since 1999 and currently oversees all patrol-based operations. Chris Vallejo, Commander of the Austin Police Department, has 30 years of experience and commands the Special Victims Division.

These candidates possess a range of educational backgrounds and professional accomplishments. Chapman holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Policing and Arizona State University's Certified Public Manager program. Enriquez has a master's degree in psychology and a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton. Larkin has a bachelor's degree in biological anthropology and criminal justice and graduated from the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Post Graduate School. Ramer earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police. Vallejo holds a master's degree in criminal justice and a bachelor's degree in applied arts and science with specializations in constitutional law and political science.

The City of Chandler encourages residents to attend the public meet and greet to get to know the candidates and provide input on the selection process. The event will be held at the Chandler City Hall Vision Gallery from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on February 1st. This is an opportunity for the community to play an active role in choosing the next leader of the Chandler Police Department.