Public Input Sought on Fairfax County Police Chief Selection
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Public Input Sought on Fairfax County Police Chief Selection

Increased expectations of public involvement and transparency drive forum

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking public involvement as its nationwide search for the next Fairfax County Police Chief gets underway. On Tuesday, April 6, from 7-9 p.m., Chairman Jeffrey McKay and Supervisor Rodney Lusk will host a public input session. It will feature County Executive Bryan Hill and Polihire CEO & President Kenyatta Uzzell.

The public can weigh in and share the qualities they would like to see in the next police chief. They can also suggest questions for the Board of Supervisors to ask candidates during the interview process. Public input assists in identifying a candidate pool matched with the qualities and work experience the community seeks.

To participate, individuals and speakers representing groups can call 703-324-1114 at the time of the program or submit pre-recorded video testimony to leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov.

“Right now, there is a high level of distrust and fear of police by people of color in Fairfax, who are disproportionately arrested and subjected to use of force by FCPD,” said Diane Burkley Alejandro, ACLU People Power Fairfax. “Police reform must be a top priority of the new Police Chief in order to build the community trust that is lacking.”

Alejandro added that for the new Police Chief to succeed, the individual would need “to understand and be able to address the concerns that the Fairfax community has with how law enforcement performs its job.”

To view the Police Chief Selection Public Input Session, tune to Local TV Channel 16, live stream at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/.../chann.../live-video-stream or watch on Facebook @supervisorlusk @jeffreymckay.