Sanford narrows list for police chief post - FOX 35 News Orlando

The City of Sanford has selected five (5) individuals as Finalist to be considered for its new Police Chief.  They are:

• Kevin Canavan, Deputy Chief, Nassau County Police Department, NY
• Rafael (Ralph) Hernandez, Investigator, Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Former Police Chief, North Miami, FL
• George Markert, Executive Deputy Chief and Director of Public Integrity, Rochester Police Department, Rochester, NY
• Cecil Smith, Deputy Chief, Elgin Police Department, Elgin, IL
• Sandra Wilson, Deputy Chief, Clearwater Police Department, Clearwater, FL

The City will be holding a 2 day process for these individuals on Tuesday, January 15th and Wednesday, January 16th.  

On Tuesday, Jan. 15th the Finalists will participate in an Assessment Center at City Hall and be given tours of the City and the City's Public Safety Complex.  The City will hold a Reception in the lobby of City Hall open to the public to meet the Finalists at 6pm-6:45pm, followed by a Public Community Forum in the City Commission Chambers at 7pm-8:30pm where the Finalists will introduce themselves and the public can ask the Finalists questions.

On Wednesday, Jan. 16th the Finalists will have meetings with the Mayor, City Commissioners, a review panel and an interview with the City Manager.

Members of the review panel are:

• City of Sanford Police Sgt. Gregory A. Smith, President of the police union
• City of Sanford Police Lt. Willie Harden, a member of the police command staff
• Seminole County Sheriff's Chief Deputy,  Dennis M. Lemma
• Pastor Valarie Houston, Co-Chair of Sanford's Police Community Relations Blue Ribbon Panel
• Turner Clayton, President of the Seminole County Branch of the NAACP
• Sylvester Chang, a Sanford business owner
• City of Sanford Interim Police Chief, Rick Myers
• City of Sanford Director of Human Relations and Risk Management, Fred Fosson

City Manager Norton Bonaparte will use the feedback he gets from these meetings and his interview with each candidate to select one or two candidates for further consideration.  He plans to then visit their communities to get an assessment of the candidate by local elected officials and community representatives.  The City Manager anticipates making a decision on the new Police Chief by the beginning of February, with the new Police Chief starting the beginning of March.