Interim Chief Not Candidate for Top Job

Columbia, S.C. (CITY OF COLUMBIA//WOLO) — Upon receipt from the Police Chief Search Committee and the City of Columbia’s Human Resources Director, City Manager Teresa Wilson has announced the candidates for the Columbia Police Chief, and Interim/Acting Police Chief Ruben Santiago’s name is nowhere on the list. The format for the next phase of the search process for the City of Columbia’s Police Chief will begin on February 18, 2014. Five candidates will be engaged in a 3-day assessment process that will include the participation of the City Manager, Police Chief Search Committee, Community Stakeholders Panel and the citizens of Columbia. “I remain committed to conducting a fair and transparent process that is open, engaging and inclusive,” said City Manager Teresa Wilson. “The collaborative efforts of our Search Committee and Community Stakeholders have been vital to this national search and I’m especially grateful for their time, diligence and dedication. Thanks to them, we have an amazing slate of candidates to consider. This position is critical to the future of our Capital City and one that I don’t take lightly. I have no doubt that my decision will be difficult, but I will certainly use every ounce of information available to make the right choice for our citizens and communities.” The five candidates that will participate in the assessment process include: Tony Fisher, William Holbrook, Bryan Norwood, Charles Rapp, and Gregory Reese. A significant part of the process will include a public forum that will provide an opportunity for citizens to meet the candidates and submit questions for them to answer. The Police Chief Search Public Forum will be held at City Hall (Chambers), 1737 Main Street, on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. During the forum, candidates will respond to questions that have been submitted by citizens. Any citizen who would like to submit a question may email it to columbiahr@columbiasc.net or mail it to Gardner Johnson, Department of Human Resources, 1225 Lady Street, Columbia, SC, 29201. All questions must be received by February 17, 2014. Citizens are asked to submit one question per person. The other segments of the assessment process will be held in executive session and will not be open to the public.