Assistant Chief Scott Wahl's appointment to serve as San Diego's next police chief cleared a major hurdle Monday evening, after a more than two-hour-long San Diego City Council committee hearing.
Wahl's appointment however was not unanimously approved and newly-elected councilmember Henry L. Foster III was the sole councilmember to vote against the appointment.
Although all city council members were present and participated in Monday's special committee hearing, it was largely procedural, as the council must provide final approval next month during a regular meeting of the city council.
Mayor Gloria announced Tuesday afternoon that Wahl's final confirmation hearing would take place at the May 13 council meeting.
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More than 30 community members and organizational leaders attended Monday's meeting to provide public testimony largely in support of Gloria's appointee.
"I think it's noteworthy that we heard from dozens of people speaking about Chief Wahl tonight and nobody said anything bad about him... must be nice," Councilmember Stephen Whitburn commented somewhat jocularly.
Councilmember Foster however expressed some concerns he had with the hiring, recruitment and appointment process.
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"I'm taken back by the timeframe in which we had went through a vetting process and shortlisted applicants," Foster said.
"I've heard my colleague say that he checks -- that Assistant Chief Wahl checks all the boxes... I have not received anything written, anything that I can go through and look at these items to say that this individual checks these boxes and is the right person for this job," Foster added.
Throughout the meeting, Wahl shared some of the plans he expects to make once at the helm of the department.
"I plan to focus on three key priorities. First and foremost is establishing trust," Wahl said before adding that second "We face an unprecedented amount of attrition over the next two years, particularly at our upper ranks.... and third we use a decades old organizational structure that has served us well over the years, but has run its course."
Wahl, who currently serves as one the department's eight assistant chiefs, was picked last month as Mayor Todd Gloria's appointee to succeed Chief David Nisleit, who will retire at the end of June following 36 years of service.
Pending final approval when the item returns before the full city council, Wahl will assume the office on June 7.
Wahl, a 25-year veteran and lifelong San Diego resident, was selected after a nationwide search for candidates that was narrowed down to 56 law enforcement officers and after an extensive interview process with nearly two dozen community members and other city officials, Gloria's office said.
Following Gloria's announcement, Wahl said, "I look forward to working collaboratively with him, the City Council and our community to ensure public safety and a better quality of life for all. Together, we will build a department that is reflective of our city and worthy of your trust and collaboration."
Wahl has worked in almost every role and rank during his tenure, including as an officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and most-recently assistant chief of special projects and legislative affairs.
"I love this city and I love this police department," Wahl said after the Mayor's announcement. "I am here because I want to make a difference in our community. I am here because I want to make a difference in the lives of the men and women who come to work each and every day to protect and serve all of you. I have a vested interest in the success of this city and the success of this police department."
According to the San Diego Police museum, Wahl follows in his father Michael's footsteps. The elder Wahl ended a 35-year career with SDPD when he retired at the rank of detective.
"I’m a fourth-generation San Diegan. I'm born and raised here. I grew up the son of a San Diego police officer. Doing this job is all I've ever wanted to do,” Wahl said during the news conference about the appointment.
Nisleit's retirement marks the end of a nearly 36-and-a-half-year law enforcement career, culminated by more than six years as the city's highest-ranking officer.
Nisleit took the reigns as chief in March 2018 after being appointed by former Mayor Kevin Faulconer to replace outgoing Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who served from 2014 until her retirement.
Chief William Lansdowne, Zimmerman's predecessor, was hired following a national search, and the only chief in the last 50 years that has been hired from outside the department. Prior to his 2003 arrival in San Diego, Lansdowne served as Chief of Police in San Jose. Lansdowne retired in 2014.
The search for Wahl closely mimicked the last national search that ultimately led to the internal hiring of Chief David Nisleit.
Ahead of both Nisleit's and Wahl's appointments, city officials solicited input from the public during several community meetings and received hundreds of online surveys from residents. Faulconer and Gloria both sought the input of advisory boards of community leaders and city executives.
Monday's council meeting allowed for the City Council to "interview Assistant Chief Wahl for the position of Chief of Police as well as receive public comment," Gloria's office said.
The interview consisted of 21 specific questions from Councilmembers. A transcript of the questions and answers is included below.
Five of the council's nine members asked questions. Councilmembers Whitburn and Lee spoke about the appointment and took time to congratulate Chief Nisleit. Councilmembers Campbell and Moreno did not ask questions of Assistant Chief Wahl during the meeting.
