The city of Bakersfield has opted to not alter the process used to hire a police chief.

During a council committee meeting on Tuesday, city attorney Ginny Gennaro says members of city council chose to keep recruitment within BPD, and the final hiring decision with the city manager.

“The city of Bakersfield has never had a problem finding qualified candidates for chief of police,” she said. “We’ve always been blessed in that regard.”

A $100,000 International Association of Chiefs of Police report ordered by the city that was presented to council last year urged that the city shift hiring power to council. Voters would have to approve city charter changes before that could happen, however.

– Anthony Pollreisz