YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima is much closer to a new police chief. Interim City Manager Michael Morales narrowed down the field of six finalists down to three. All three come from outside the Yakima Police Department.
Behind closed doors at city hall, Interim City Manager Michael Morales interviewed the final three candidates for the next chief. They are Dale Miller, the current Ellensburg Police Chief; Dominic Rizzi, watch commander for the Chicago Police Department; and Dave Frazier, former police chief in McFarland, California.
"It's critical we appoint solid and steady leadership right now and give them a chance to succeed as they move forward," said Yakima Mayor Micah Cawley.
They made it through an exhaustive weekend that included a test of a hypothetical critical situation.
Anne Caffery served on the panel that scored the applicants in this area.
"It put someone in the minute by minute situation of a horrible thing happening and they had to make the long-term, short-term appropriate logistical, strategic, I mean all at one time," said community panelist Anne Caffery.
Caffery says the final three candidates distinguished themselves under pressure. Pressure now switches back to the interim city manager to fill a job that's been open for more than a year. The city hopes this search ends better than the last when Don Cooper resigned after six months on the job as city manager.
Any trepidation this time around?
"Anytime you have a position like this, you have little concern they may not mesh with the organization or may not fit in. That's always a concern, "Cawley said.
There will now be more background checks on the remaining three before entering into contract negotiations and making a formal offer.
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CITY OF YAKIMA NEWS RELEASE -- Following an extensive assessment and evaluation process over the weekend, the original pool of 6 finalists for the Yakima police chief position has been cut in half. Interim City Manager Michael Morales expects to name one of the remaining 3 finalists his top choice for the police chief spot within the next couple of weeks.
The 3 finalists still in the running are:
- Dave Frazer, who most recently served as police chief in McFarland, California
- Dale Miller, the current police chief in Ellensburg
- Dominic Rizzi, Jr., a watch commander in the 9th Police District in Chicago, Illinois
This past weekend, all 6 original finalists went through a 2-day “assessment center” process at Yakima City Hall. On Saturday, the finalists made formal presentations about law enforcement issues to the an assessment center panel consisting of Mayor Micah Cawley, City Council members Dave Ettl and Bill Lover, YPD Interim Chief Greg Copeland, YPD Sergeant Gary Jones, Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin, Seattle Deputy Police Chief Nick Metz, and Madera, California Police Chief Michael Kime.
On Sunday, the finalists went through a critical incident exercise, which was evaluated and scored by a 3-member assessment center panel consisting of Dave Fonfara, a retired city manager (Sunnyside, Chelan, Blue Lake, California), Tadeo Saenz-Thompson, executive director of the Washington State Migrant Council, and Anne Caffery, president and CEO of the Memorial Foundation.
Morales is in the process of completing one-on-one interviews with Rizzi, Miller, and Frazer today. Once a top choice is selected, additional background investigations will be completed and contract negotiations will be conducted before a formal job offer is made.
David B. Frazer
Mr. Frazer has over twenty-five years of law enforcement and fire services experience, most recently having served as Chief of Police in the City of McFarland, California, a diverse, agricultural community located in Kern County, California. Mr. Frazer retired as the Police Commander of the City of Rohnert Park, California in August, 2009 after serving there for twenty three years. He has a Bachelors degree in Management and a Masters degree in Leadership from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California and is a graduate of California’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College.
Dale L. Miller
Mr. Miller has served as Chief of Police for the City of Ellensburg, Washington for the past five years. Previous to that, Mr. Miller spend nineteen years with the Chehalis Police Department, his last two years there as Chief of Police. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Portland State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Dominic Rizzi, Jr.
Mr. Rizzi is currently acting Watch Commander in the 9th Police District of the Chicago Police Department and has twenty-eight years of law enforcement experience. He has served with the Chicago Police Department for twenty-four years and has Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University and a Master of Science degree in Public Safety Administration from Calumet College. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
