Taylor Turns Back On In-House Chief Candidates

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, the Tulsa World reports, has decided to look outside the Tulsa Police Department to find the city's next police chief, in effect turning her back on three in-house applicants, Deputy Chief Bill Wells, Major Rob Turner and Major Paul Williams. They were certified as meeting at least the minimum qualifications and were each interviewed by the mayor twice.

Gun rights advocates are watching Taylor's actions in the selection of a new chief given her involvement in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's pro-gun control group, a coalition of mayors. Taylor was an original member of the group, but makes no mention of it on her website and apparently avoids discussing it in Tulsa. She has, however, appeared in other cities (Chicago included) with some of the nation's most vigorous gun control mayors to help push Bloomberg's agenda.

A national head-hunting firm was hired by Taylor to conduct a nationwide search for a new chief, prompting criticism by some in the Tulsa law enforcement community.

Image courtesy David Arnett, Tulsa Today

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