Dozens of candidates apply to become Austin's next police chief
The finalists will meet with the city council and participate in a community meet and greet. Then, the city manager will recommend a final candidate and council will vote to approve them.
Editor's Note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Tuesday, June 18 2024.
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than 30 people have applied to lead the Austin Police Department, according to a list provided to KXAN. Candidates include both a current member of APD as well as a former assistant chief, and a number of candidates from Texas.
- Darryl Albert, Former Chief of Police, Montgomery Police Department
- Lindsey Alli, Columbus Police Department
- Nicholas Augustine, Montgomery County Department of Police, Maryland
- Paco Balderrama, Fresno Police Department
- Deshawn Beaufort, Philadelphia Police Department
- Blake Bennett, Buda Police Department
- Joseph Costa, DeSoto, TX Police Department
- Lisa Davis, Cincinnati Police Department
- Adrian Diaz, Former Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department
- Prurince Dice, DeLand Police Department
- Gabriel Dobkin, Austin Police Department
- Jason Dusterhoft, Former Austin Police Department Assistant Chief
- Anson Evans, Former Chief of Police, Fort Valley Police Department
- Teresa Ewins, Former Chief of Police, Lincoln Police Department
- Alan Fear, Sterling Police Department
- Joel Fitzgerald, Chief of Police and Emergency Management, Regional Transportation District, Denver
- Nicholas Fiore, New York City Police Department
- Steve Friend, Center for Renewing America
- Mark Grube, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana
- Kevin Hall, Tucson Police Department
- Andy Harvey, Former Chief of Police, Pharr Police Department
- Steven Huron, Former San Antonio Police Department sergeant
- Ernest Morales III, Metro Transit Police Department, Minnesota
- Kawanski Nichols, Houston Police Department
- Jeffrey Norman, Milwaukee Police Department
- Geneane Orndorff, Fort Bend County Constable's Office
- Brian Reyes, San Antonio Police Department
- Amanjeet Sandhu, New York City Police Department
- Anthony Schembri, Former County Administrator and Director of Public Safety, Citrus County, Florida
- Ryan Urrutia, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
- Hector Villarreal, Kingsville Police Department
- Joshua Wallace, Chicago Police Department Bureau of Counterterrorism
Austin's city manager and Mosaic Public Partners will identify top candidates from the list. who will then be interviewed by stakeholder panels, according to a message board note on behalf of Mayor Kirk Watson. The finalists will meet with the city council and participate in a community meet and greet. Then, the city manager will recommend a final candidate and council will vote to approve them.
"I hope you join me in looking forward to the opportunity to meet with the finalists next month and having a top candidate for our consideration of confirmation relatively soon," Watson's message said.
Austin has previously worked with Mosaic on searches, including for former police Chief Joseph Chacon and current City Manager T.C. Broadnax, according to previous KXAN reporting.
Robin Henderson has served as interim police chief since Chacon retired last year. She said she planned to retire after the city hired a permanent chief.