Taylor Hides Identities Of Top Cop Finalists

The Tulsa World reports today that, "External candidates to be Tulsa's next top cop must apply by Wednesday, but don't expect Mayor Kathy Taylor to identify them publicly or even name the finalists. Her spokeswoman, Kim MacLeod, said Tuesday that Taylor intends to conduct the police chief search the way she would any other job search and not disclose the candidates' names -- a change from the city's past practices when hiring police chiefs. Meanwhile, City Councilor Rick Westcott, an attorney and former police officer, said Tuesday that his interpretation of the City Charter is that the mayor is required to hire one of the three qualified internal candidates who applied but ultimately were rejected."

Taylor's search for a new chief is being watched closely by 2nd Amendment advocates, who believe she is searching for a chief who will advocate the gun control policies of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Taylor was a charter member of Bloomberg's coalition of mayors that supports gun control measures but she's not publicized her membership in Tulsa. She has attended numerous meetings of the group in New York, Chicago and Washington.

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