Wichita police chief finalists discuss racial profiling at public forum (+videos)

Joel Fitzgerald, who has spent most of his career in Pennsylvania, says he would bring “fresh eyes” as chief of the Wichita Police Department.

“There is a fresh opportunity,” he said.

Terri Moses, who put in 32 years on the Wichita force before leaving to lead safety services for Wichita public schools, said she embraces change, but for it to be sustainable, it can’t be forced.

When asked about how she could convince people she is open to change, Moses said, “First of all, I’m me.”

The two finalists for Wichita police chief said a lot more than that. But that formed the essence of their messages at a forum at Century II Convention Hall on Monday evening attended by about 250 people who got to question the two finalists, one at a time, in a little over two hours.

There was no scientific poll on the audience’s views of the finalists’ comments, but Fitzgerald seemed to get more applause. At times, some of the people who lined up to question the candidates criticized Moses’ comments and her tenure at the police department.

A man seated in front of Moses blurted out a defense of her in response to what one questioner said. He called it a “terrible thing to say about a wonderful woman.”

‘Fresh eyes and ears’

Fitzgerald, the 44-year-old police chief in Allentown, Pa., went first. He said “outside the box” is his “theme.”

He said he was qualified to take over in Wichita, noting that six of his 24 years in law enforcement have been as a police chief, “so you’re not getting someone who is learning on the fly.”

If he were chief, he said, the department “will have a re-emphasis on a problem-solving approach.”

Everyone, rich or poor, deserves equal services, said Fitzgerald, who said he grew up in inner-city Philadelphia.

When asked how he would combat an increase in home robberies, he said he would use intelligence-based policing, relying on information, because “throwing human resources” at the problem isn’t enough.

From his tour here, he said, it’s clear that “we do need to invest in technology that offsets some deficiencies.”

One practical approach, he said, is to have officers go into neighborhoods and put notes on people’s cars if they are unlocked or have valuables lying out where a thief can see them. Changing people’s behavior is part of the solution, he said.

In answer to a question about body cameras, he said they could help “debunk” and “demystify” some thoughts about police and show that “99 percent of the time, an officer does the right thing.” When they don’t, he said, they need to be held accountable.

When asked how he would approach the Wichita job as an outsider, he said the city would “get fresh eyes and ears,” which drew applause.

Later, he added, “I have no ties to anyone in Wichita.”

What he doesn’t want, he said, is the “seven deadly words: ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it.’ ”

What he also doesn’t want, he said, is investigations of officers that last years because it can turn citizens against the officer and make the officer unproductive. That drew some of the loudest applause.

Answering a question about racial profiling, Fitzgerald, who is African-American, said while smiling that he is sensitive to the issue. He said he won’t tolerate racial profiling.

In their interaction with the public, officers get much better results by explaining than by being “too high and mighty,” he said. Police need to show “decency and respect.”

As for interaction with a community who might not trust police, he said, officers can show “we’re not an occupying force; we’re here to serve them.”

Making Wichita home

Moses, 56, spoke after Fitzgerald. She said she saw many familiar faces in the audience.

She said she came to Wichita 37 years ago and chose to make it her home, spending 32 years with the police department, rising to deputy chief, before taking the safety services job with Wichita public schools. She has raised children here, taught Sunday school and coached youth sports.

She hasn’t sought to be a police chief anywhere else, she said.

“I applied to be the police chief in the community (where) I chose to live.”

Some years back, the department won awards for its policing, she said, and it needs to get back to winning awards.

She blamed media and social media for driving a wedge between the community and police. It leads to an “us-versus-them” situation, she said. Instead, everyone needs to be working together, Moses said.

When asked the same question about how to combat home robberies, Moses – as Fitzgerald did – said getting good data about the problem is key to solving it. The main thing, she said, is preventing the crime before it happens and involves “situational awareness”: neighbors talking to each other, better lighting and trimming shrubs so thieves can’t hide.

In answer to a question about body cameras worn by police, she said one concern is there could be situations where it could invade someone’s privacy; for example, the death of a family member.

On change, she said: “I’m not going to force change … that’s not going to work.

“We have to build a system that fosters ideas … allows people to take risks ... that rewards … that’s sustainable change … that is long-term.”

Asked about her tenure with the police department, Moses said she volunteered to take the lead at looking at racial profiling.

“I’m the one who reached out to a lot of people in this community,” she said. She added there is more to be done, but Wichita police are moving in the right direction.

When a Hispanic woman asked how police can build trust with the minority community, Moses said it “can be difficult” for police to work with the Hispanic community because of community fears and because of barriers.

“Let’s be honest. It is difficult,” Moses said.

Another woman accused Moses of doing nothing to bring to the attention of the public when she worked for a former chief who had been found to have been dishonest in the past.

“I personally knew nothing about the prior chief’s background,” Moses replied.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Wichita police chief finalists discuss racial profiling at public forum (+videos)."