Updated 04/06/2010 10:38 PM
Police chief nominees will be handed to mayor on Wednesday
We now know there will be more than one nominee for Albany police chief placed in the hands of the mayor Wednesday morning, according to the search committee. But the committee hasn't yet disclosed how many or who they are. Our Britt Godshalk has been following every step of the way and has the story for us.
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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "You're leaving here pleased?" our reporter asked three of the members of the Albany police chief search committee Tuesday night.
"Absolutely," said Daniel Herring, a member.
The nominees for Albany police chief are going to be announced Wednesday to the mayor before anyone else. The search committee chair reserving comment before his meeting with the mayor, who formed the committee after now former police chief James Tuffey left his post amid allegations Tuffey used a racial slur while referring to a case. The five month process to replace him has, so far, included several closed door committee meetings, three public forums and nearly 50 candidates from around the country.
"I think there is unanimity in the fact that the process worked," said Herring. "We're all happy that it worked out."
One by one, eight finalists came here over the last month arriving from as far away as Michigan and Baltimore and as close as right in our backyard. And one by one, they faced the search committee.
Tuesday night, it was the committee's turn to do the talking. They spent two and a half hours discussing the interviews and the resumes and aren't saying yet if there were obvious leaders of the pack behind these closed doors.
"People are very opinionated and had no difficulty in sharing those opinions and it worked well for the city," said Carolyn McLaughlin, another committee member.
"And on to the next leg of the process," said Dale Getto, another member.
The mayor has given no time frame on how long he will take deciding his pick, but he's said he will hold one-on-one interviews with each nominee. And for the first time in the city's history, his high profile pick must then be confirmed or vetoed by the common council.