Harp Sets Police Chief Deadline

Based on previous reporting Helliger is unift for the job and it's a disgrace that she is under consideration since she has demonstrated herself to be hotheaded and unprofessional.

So no outside applicants with prior experience are being considered?

"I'm going to be doing is building a fire because it's really important to me that it gets done by some time in April," Harp said Monday in response to a question from a caller to the show. "I thought it was really great to have this process. But if the committee can't move quickly enough, I will just make a decision." Wait. What? It's been eight months.

The city is blessed in many ways (way before this mayor's emergence), to have police officers as a whole, that personify true professionalism. As cities across the nation grapple with police departments that many black groups protest for their dismantling, that level disgruntlement has not visited the steps of 1 Union Ave. So I solute the Union leadership, the officers of all ranks and the interim police chief for holding down the city.

I write this with sadness in my heart for the loss of 22 year old rookie Police Officer Justin Terny of Oklahoma, who died today after being shot three times while pursuing a criminal.

Police officers have families too.

God Bless the police officers of America.

The lack of any non-politcians or political appointees to the search committee is troubling. Civilians on the search committee and Civilan Review Boards after a Chief is hired could be invaluable voices in the process of effective policing of civilians.

The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

Being a Mayoral Candidate I must say all the way up until last week I supported Chief Campbell, but the way he handled the Officer who was Sexual assaulting a student, dont get me wrong I still support him, because the other candidates will carry way to much negative baggage. I commend her for saying Mid April and hope that she change her method of hiring instead of looking at what she wants she should look at what is best for the Communities.

Don't you all see the fix is in? It is Campbell, Harp's choice. No doubt. NHI has been silent on the names of any out of town/state candidates. Given New Haven's luck with out of town/state candidates in the last 10 years, I'm guessing they don't rate comment by NHI.

Let's dispense with the others.

Retired Lt. Howell, however qualified, is not longer the chief of police in Millbury, MA. His contract wasn't renewed. See http://www.telegram.com/article/20150806/NEWS/150809584 At any rate, Millbury has 18 officers, including the chief. I'm not sure the translation of a 3yr term at chief in MA to being chief in New Haven. He is a student at Harvard getting his MPA.

DC Casanova. We don't need to cover this much, NHI has already covered the smear campaign against Casanova. http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/casanova_controversy_deepens/ He won't get the nod.

Capt. Helliger. Her tenure as an officer is mired in controversy. How can you promote to chief someone who is suing the City. Isn't she the same officer who IA found to have "displayed "conduct unbecoming a police officer" and violated a department order protecting the rights of citizens to record the actions of police officers" only to have the charge overruled by then Chief Esserman? Of course Esserman had to clear her because he acted the same way to a Yale usher. I'm sure there are other issues out there on Helliger that cloud her past. No one can believe that she is a serious candidate other than for political grandstanding and/or advancing her court case.

Next chief - Anthony Campbell

@ concerned_neighbor,

Though I like all of the candidates, Kenny Howell is by far my choice.

Because Kenny chose to assume a position of chief of police in a different area, and is no longer at that position, doesn't in no way disqualify him as chief in NH. In fact, it more than qualifies him if you ask me.

Generally speaking, the mayor made assurances that may very well come back and bite her politically.

As I looked at the list of people who are narrowing down the final candidate for chief, I couldn't help but to notice that there was no common person among the committee. This is the same mayor who said that the public will weigh in on this decision, so again, I ask, where are they among this selection committee?

My mother always taught me that if your words don't match your deeds, then there is no truth in them.

Campbell should be disqualified from the running after the way he handled the situation with a SRO harassing a student. If Campbell is selected as chief it will be merely because the mayor knows that he will be her puppet. He has no track record of being a strong leader.

Helliger is a bully, a female version of Esserman.

What the city really needs is someone from the outside. Someone who is not already tainted by the mayor and the corrupt city.