Chief search panel members Daniel Bland, Tai Richardson, Jorge Cabrera.
Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett has tapped a pastor-social worker, an attorney, and a labor organizer-state legislator, among others, to help her find a new police chief.
Garrett announced the formation of the five-member committee in a press release issued Tuesday.
The committee is charged to “receive public input, establish search criteria, conduct interviews, and provide recommendations” to the mayor about whom to hire, according to the release.
Police Chief John Sullivan retired in May. Tim Wydra has served as acting chief since then pending the naming of a permanent successor.
The department has wrestled with high-profile carjackings, including at Hamden Plaza, as well as calls for more diversity and accountability, including in a case involving the destruction of civilian-complaint records requested by a police commissioner.
The five members named to the search committee are Bishop Daniel Bland, senior pastor of the Mt. Calvary Revival Center and a former state social worker; State Sen. Jorge Cabrera, an organizer for the commercial food workers’ union; educator and community volunteer Dawn Kountz; attorney Susan Nugent; and Tai Richardson, a career probation officer and member of the Hamden Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships Council who has worked in the juvenile justice, youth development and nonprofit management fields.
Interview Renee Dominguez and Steve Torquati.