It isn’t exactly a beauty contest, but – all things being equal – how do we choose our next Chief of Police from among this group of highly qualified and capable individuals?

Each of the final four contenders for the position have the education, experience, and proven capacity to lead the Somerville Police Department through its next administration. What then can we hope to discern from their histories and visions for the future of the department that can inform us of who among them may fit the role better than the others?

At least one issue stands out for many, the choice between the insider and the outsider. By some astronomically unlikely coincidence of symmetry, two of the four candidates are currently high-ranking officers in the SPD, while the other two serve as chiefs of their respective police departments in cities outside of Massachusetts.

Those who might favor the insider choice would cite familiarity with the community and its particular needs and desires, as well as making a transition to the top position easy by virtue of the individual already being a part of the department’s culture.

Conversely, those with an opposing viewpoint might question the ethicality of promoting from within the department, hoping rather for a leader that will be free of political ties and undue influences.

Whichever way one may lean on that matter, it still leaves a choice to be made – if not between four, then at least two candidates.

Perhaps it’s just a matter of doing the math, so to speak. Who has the most experience? Who has particular experience relevant to the issues that confront the city at this time? What exactly are those issues, and can we all agree on what they are?

No, it’s not going to be an easy decision. Perhaps a good old-fashioned beauty contest would be far simpler. Or would it?