Oak Forest Top Cop a Semifinalist for Florida Position
Police Chief Greg Anderson was recently named a semifinalist in the search to replace Sarasota's retiring police chief Mikel Hollaway.
Oak Forest Police Chief Greg Anderson is one of five candidates lined up for a shot at replacing retiring Sarasota chief Mikel Hollaway.
The city announced Friday morning five semifinalists who will travel to Sarasota for interviews with City Manager Tom Barwin, one-on-one interviews with the commission, public vetting and a community forum.
The candidates are:
- Gregory J. Anderson: Chief of Police, Oak Forest, Ill., Police Department
- Bernadette A. DiPino: Chief of Police, Ocean City, Md., Police Department
- Salvatore Ruggiero: Former Major/Division Commander, Tampa Police Department
- Mark A. Teunis: Major/Division Commander; Clearwater Police Department
- Tonya D. Vincent: Deputy Chief of Police; Richmond, Va., Police Department
Barwin called the candidates "impressive."
“Each one has the critical skill sets required to strengthen and improve trust between the community and our police department. Now we need to spend some time with each candidate and determine the best fit for the challenges and opportunities ahead," Barwin said. "I’m looking forward to selecting someone with strong professional principles who embraces community policing and has a clear vision to uplift and lead our 175 sworn officers at a time when resources are a challenge.”
Barwin in the process of seeking input from commanders, supervisors and patrol officers within the Sarasota Police Department, according to the city.
Barwin narrowed the search to five after receiving a list of 13 semifinalists from Interim City Manager Terry Lewis. Lewis reviewed applications with the assistance of Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown, Halloway, former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Officer Jim Sewell and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Col. Steve Burns, according to the city.
Halloway is set to retire at the end of October after 30 years of service with the police department.
Anderson has also previously applied for positions in Texas and Champaign.
—by Charles Schelle, Editor of Sarasota Patch
NANCY GRACE
7:30 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
HE GONE!
Michael M.
1:21 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Have we started to look for a replacement? We should do that ASAP.
Debbie D.
2:41 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
So our police chief is working hard at getting out of Oak Forest?
Baba Wawa
5:26 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I think he worked hard at it the minute he got here. Useless tool.
Mike F.
3:14 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
IT'S ALL PART OF THE ILLUMINATI'S PLAN!
Signed,
Ivent
Ruth Ensing
3:22 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Should have promoted from within maybe? Might have had a little more loyalty?
Baba Wawa
5:24 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I agree! This guy is/was a joke!
Janet Virva
7:01 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Funny, in the business world (aka "reality"), when your boss finds out you're interviewing, he/she sends you on your way to interview at your leisure. But, well... this is "government."
phxdr
8:28 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Anderson is not perfect but I have no major problems with him. I don't think that he will be getting the position. Oak Forest is a very small suburb, while those others candidates are from larger cities. Sarasota has a population of 50,000 so I would say they will pick a chief that has experience with a larger city...which Oak Forest is far from being.
Brian
5:05 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
phxdr, Anderson has worked as a former Deputy Chief of Aurora Illinois (200k people). He has big city experience, and also that of establishing a department in Campton Hills. I am not sure what his angle is, but he has always been ready to springboard into something else since day one. Seems like he wants to be a Chief of a large city rather bad. Truth be told, I think that would be the right position for him.
http://openline.blogspot.com/2007/07/aurora-deputy-police-chief-greg.html
http://will.uiuc.edu/media/champaignpolice/GregoryAndersonResume.pdf
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefanderson
I think this city needs a Chief that has connections to this area (south suburbs if not internal), and has savvy about the trends facing this area. I think someone with gang/tactical experience would be a good choice, as I foresee this problem becoming a bigger issue in this area over the next decade.
The problem with our officials hiring people like Anderson, is they go gaga over paper credentials, and toss aside environmental experience. Greg seems like a decent guy, just not the right fit for our city, and he most likely shares these views.
Randall
11:31 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
This casts a very big and strange shadow also on our current adminstraion in city hall! Have they already told him he will not be returning? Has he realized the strange way politics works here in the City by the Forest? It has never been a great fit for Chief Anderson, but I would think if the Administration was better he would not be jumping ship that fast! Internal candidates were looked at and seemed not to step up to the process! Many have retired from OFPD and that also sends a special message about the Administration! Too many Politicians spoiling the soup!!
The voice of reason
6:50 am on Sunday, September 23, 2012
When Chief Anderson was selected it was between him and another applicant. At the time the process occurred the department internally wasn't as preparred to promote from within. I think that they have done a better job in preparring the lower level supervisors for the next level.Sometimes a view from the outside can help change things from the inside.