City Manager Announces Police Chief Finalists

Prepared by: Public Affairs Department

For more information: J. Russell Allen, City Manager, 919-996-3070

January 9, 2013

City Manager Announces Police Chief Finalists
Public Forum to be held January 24

City Manager J. Russell Allen today announced the three finalists to be considered to fill the City of Raleigh’s police chief vacancy.  

The finalists are: Malik Aziz, 44, deputy chief of police for the Dallas, Texas,  Police Department; Cassandra Deck-Brown, 49, interim police chief for the Raleigh Police Department; and, Bryan Norwood, 46, chief of the Richmond, Va., Police Department.

Mr. Aziz has been with the Dallas Police Department since 1992.  He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and received a master’s degree in business from the University of Dallas.
Ms. Deck-Brown joined the Raleigh Police Department in 1987.  She is a North Carolina native, having graduated from East Carolina University and received a masters degree in public administration from North Carolina State University.
Mr. Norwood began his career with the New Haven, Conn., Police Department in 1989.  He was appointed police chief for the Bridgeport, Conn., Police Department in 2006 and assumed that position with the Richmond Police Department in 2008.  He is a graduate of Hampton University.

INTERVIEWING THE FINALISTS

A public forum will be held January 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the council chamber of the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St. At the forum the three finalists will be asked several questions. The questions will be presented to them by the City Manager. The public will not have an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. Citizens attending the forum will be given a form to complete and return at the conclusion of the event. The form will allow residents to rank the finalists according to their preference and to offer written comments.

The public forum will be shown live by the City of Raleigh Television Network on cable channel 11.

Following the forum, the City will host a brief reception in the lobby of the Upchurch Complex.  This will allow residents to meet with the candidates.

Mr. Allen said that he will be naming the City of Raleigh’s new police chief as promptly as possible following these interviews, allowing for a thorough evaluation of the feedback from the forums.

The City Manager began the process on September 13, 2012 with a national search. The filing period to fill the vacancy was closed October 25. The City received 48 applicants. All of the applications were reviewed and evaluated by a team assembled by Mr. Allen. The team included the City Manager, the City Attorney, the Fire Chief, the Human Resources Deputy Director and the Parks and Recreation Director.