As Lonnisha Landry stood in the noisy gymnasium at Van Asselt Community Center in South Seattle on Saturday, she talked about losing her son Xavier to gun violence.
His death two years ago in Auburn sparked Landry to start a nonprofit, Just/Us Love Ones, that gives support to people who have lost loved ones to gun violence.
The 42-year-old Skyway resident was one of about 75 people to show up and share thoughts on what Seattle's next police chief should be like. Landry said two words were at the top of her list: compassion and dedication.
She had a specific definition for those words, too, that contrasted with former Chief Shon Barnes, who would often travel to Chicago to be with family and who was away in Texas the night of July's mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Barnes was forced to resign within days of the shooting, after the city and the Police Department became subject to intense scrutiny over their public response to the exchange of gunfire that killed three people and injured at least four.
When I think about those words, I think about someone that is based here, not here and there," she said, "to constantly be on the battlefield that we are on."
She said she hopes to see someone local take the job.
"For someone to have the luxury of going away to their family, I don't think that's realistic for Seattle right now, not with it being in this state of crisis with safety," she said.
Saturday's gathering was the first of three listening sessions being held by Mayor Katie Wilson's office ahead of a hiring decision. She announced an 18-member citizen advisory committee on Friday that will help her in the search.
The committee includes a range of representatives, including Community Roots Housing CEO Colleen Echohawk, Jamie Lee of the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, and Kent Loux, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
Co-chairing the committee are former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu and Ian Warner, public policy director for Vulcan Real Estate.
“Choosing Seattle’s next Chief of Police is one of the most consequential decisions I will make as mayor,” Wilson said in a news statement announcing the committee. “Our goal with this advisory committee is to bring together different experiences and perspectives so we can conduct a thoughtful, rigorous search."
Speaking on Saturday, Alison Holcomb, the mayor’s director of public safety, said a new chief will be hired by January, if not by the end of the year.
The job posting is still open, but so far the city has received 23 applicants “that appear to have at least the basic qualifications” for chief, Holcomb said.
“And there are several in the queue that are internal candidates, as well,” said Holcomb. “So we feel good about the selection of candidates that the advisory committee will be able to review."
The advisory committee will help review applicants which will include traveling to other states to hear about any out-of-state applicants who might be considered as finalists. Social media accounts for all prospective finalists will be vetted, too, she added.
The committee is expected to advance five or six finalists to take what’s called a competitive exam — a component of the hiring process baked into the city’s charter.
“From that set … we’ll recommend three finalists to the mayor for her final selection,” Holcomb said.
At the listening session, groups of people sat at folding tables to answer questions and scribble ideas on oversized notepads about what they would like to see in a chief.
One notepad listed qualities for the next chief: "boots on the ground," "community-based" and "accessible to the community." Another notepad suggested the next chief have "de-escalation practice" and be "versed in community issues."
Rainier Beach resident Ollie Gaines III came to represent the Somali community and said he's interested in the city hiring "someone who is willing to get their boots dirty and just really hear the needs of the people."
Gaines, 45, said he would like to see a return to more officers on bicycles in the community, so they get to talk to people in the neighborhood.
Asked about Barnes, "I'm not too familiar with the last chief, and I think that says it all," said Gaines. He hopes to see someone local, "who knows the fabric of the city."
Sitting with him was Sahra Farah, executive director of Somali Community Services of Seattle.
"We're looking for a police chief that will come and work together as a neighbor of the community, said Farah.
A second listening session will be held on Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Seattle University's Campion Ballroom. A third will be held Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at North Seattle College's World Community Center.
For more information, visit st.news/ChiefSearch.
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