City to pick new police chief by March

By Andrea Gregory

Acting Police Chief Robert Bradley has a resume ready and says he would like to be considered for the job he has done for the past two years. Holding 37 years of experience in the Somerville Police Department, Bradley said he knows the city and has a clear plan for leading the police force in the future.

  However, the city is embarking on a nationwide search. Bradley knows he will not be the only candidate. He said the city owes it to itself to see what is out there, but in the end he hopes to continue manning his post.
“I have had a very long, long career here,” said Bradley. “I already have my plan on the table. I would like to see the plan implemented.”
  He said if he is offered the job, he sees it as three-year task to achieve the rest of his goals for the department. He said that would grant him enough time to see the police reorganization put into place.
  Bradley said the reorganization plan is designed to bring back a truer sense of community policing.  It would also restructure how the city is patrolled. He said following crime trends and statistics make the department more efficient.
  ‚ÄúPolicing is becoming very expensive, and we have to learn to police smarter,‚Äù he said.
Bradley said the final decision will all come down to what the city is looking for and what sort of vision it has for the force.
  Somerville kicked off its search for a permanent police chief when a nine-member task force met for the first time to discuss the criteria last Tuesday. The group is revving up for a $21,000 applicant hunt with the help of Dallas-based Waters Consulting Group. If the process stays on track, the police department should have an official leader in March, according to the task force.
  ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs underway,‚Äù said Richard Tranfaglia, director of personnel and chairman of the task force commissioned to oversee the recruitment process.
  Since Bradley has filled the role of top commander, the city has removed the job from civil service. Tranfaglia said removing the position from civil service opens the city up to new options and a different recruitment process. He said the city can look at a larger pool of applicants and also consider out of state candidates. The plan is to seek out the best fit for the city, he said.
  ‚ÄúWe are looking for someone who has had years of law enforcement experience. The committee was more in favor that the person have years of law enforcement experience rather than have been a chief,‚Äù he said.
  The committee discussed several qualities and qualifications such as experience working with unions, working with a variety of community interest groups, experience with urban law enforcement and possibly being bilingual.
  Waters Consulting Group is a nationally recognized firm with experience staffing top level positions in law enforcement, said Tranfaglia.
  ‚ÄúThey have done a lot of work like this for a lot of cities,‚Äù he said.
  Currently, the consulting group, who was represented at the task force meeting, is designing a brochure that will advertise the position in towns and cities across the country. The idea is to attract applicants and give them a clear picture of the community and issues of Somerville. The brochures will be distributed through national trade groups and other means to reach a substantial amount of qualified individuals. The brochures are expected to be ready for distribution by the end of the year, said Tranfaglia.
  ‚ÄúThen it will be the beginning of a five-week requirement period,‚Äù he said.
During the five weeks of resume gathering, the consulting agency will whittle down the stack and pass on the best 20 to 25 hopefuls for the job.
  The committee will select its top 10, and three to five people will be asked to come in for interviews, Tranfaglia said.
  ‚ÄúThe mayor will be fed the last three names,‚Äù he said.
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s selection will go to the Board of Aldermen for a vote.
  According to Tranfaglia, more and more municipalities are turning to consulting groups for assistance in hiring process of key positions. Somerville used outside help to find the superintendent of schools prior to the start of the current school year. Tranfaglia said Somerville thought it would be beneficial to continue following the national trend that will help them gain access to more candidates.
  Bradley said he is not intimidated by the city‚Äôs nationwide search.
  ‚ÄúI don‚Äôt feel threatened by it. I think it‚Äôs healthy,‚Äù he said.
  He said depending on what direction the city is looking to move toward, could effect whether or not he is asked to stay on as chief. Bradley said if he is not offered the job, he could stay on as a captain or he might consider retiring.