The two finalists in the search for a police chief in Austin come from Cincinnati and Milwaukee

Lisa Davis, deputy chief of the Cincinnati Police Department, and Jeffrey B. Norman, chief of the Milwaukee Police Department, are the two finalists in the search for Austin’s next police chief.

Tuesday’s announcement came after weeks of reviewing applications since the city launched a nationwide search for the position in May. Thirty-two candidates applied for the job, but interim police chief Robin Henderson was not among them.

Henderson said she would help with the transition but ultimately decided to retire once the new boss had settled in.

“I have had a great career and the decision not to apply was not an easy one, as serving alongside the women and men of APD is truly an honor and privilege,” she wrote in a memo in June. “Please know that it is time for me to take a step back, enjoy time with my family and see what the next chapter in my life holds for me.”

The city of Austin has been without a permanent police chief since last fall, when Joseph Chacon retired. Henderson has served as interim chief since then.

City Manager TC Broadnax said filling the position is his top priority. Broadnax began his new role in May.

“I am confident we have identified the best candidates, allowing us to select an exemplary, experienced leader to lead the dedicated men and women of the Austin Police Department while continuing to engage with the community and build trust,” Broadnax said in a written statement.

The police chief will oversee more than 1,800 officers and 500 professional staff with a budget of $478 million. According to the job posting, the chief’s leadership team will consist of a chief of staff and five deputy chiefs.

What we know about the candidates

Lisa Davis has been an assistant chief of police with the Cincinnati Police Department since February 2020. According to her resume and cover letter, she joined the Cincinnati Police Department in 1992 and worked on patrol in the downtown area before moving up the career ladder to become an assistant chief of police.

Article: Lisa Davis is a deputy police chief with the Cincinnati Police Department.

This is not the first time she has been considered for the police chief position. She was previously named a finalist in Toledo’s police chief search last year and was a finalist for the Cincinnati job in 2022.

The Cincinnati Police Department has 1,160 sworn officers and professional staff and a budget of $170 million.

Jeffrey B. Norman is the Chief of Police of the Milwaukee Police Department, where he has worked since 1996. He served as a patrol officer before moving up the career ladder to become police chief. According to his resume, he served as interim police chief in December 2020 before assuming the role permanently in November 2021.

As chief, he is responsible for approximately 2,200 sworn officers and civilian employees and manages a budget of $330 million.

Contribution by Jeffrey B. Norman, Chief of Police of the Milwaukee Police Department.

Meeting with the community

Both candidates will be interviewed by community members, police officers and city leaders. A community meeting is also planned for Tuesday, July 23 at 6 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center. The public will hear opening remarks before a moderated discussion. Afterward, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the candidates from 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Broadnax said he plans to name a single finalist by July 30. The City Council must approve the candidate before he or she is officially announced.

This story was created as part of the Austin Monitor‘s reporting partnership with KUT.

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