Step.- The City of El Paso has begun the selection process for the position of Chief of Police. The process includes a national search, which will include the opportunity for local leaders to apply.
In preparation for the search, the City contracted with a national recruiting firm, SGR (Strategic Government Resources for its acronym in
English), which began meeting with Council members and stakeholders, including associations, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to gain a solid foundation on the type of candidates the City should seek before hiring the permanent Police Chief.
The public is invited to provide input on what are the key characteristics needed to be appointed El Paso Police Chief.
“The City should be justifiably proud of the current leadership of the Police Department, which reflects the philosophy of continuous improvement of the
City. It is this philosophy that has guided our investment in our uniformed and civilian workforce. That’s why the department has an exceptional and dynamic pool of talented, local leaders who know and love our community,” said Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino.
“We also understand that the position of El Paso Police Chief is an extraordinary one.
importance to our community, which is why the City has chosen to conduct a comprehensive national search to ensure that we leave no option unexplored when selecting the best candidate.”
The search comes after the unexpected death of El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen in January. Allen, 71, has served in the role since 2008 and was the first African-American to hold the position.
The city named Peter Pacillas, who served as assistant police chief nearly as long as Allen served, as interim police chief earlier this month. Pacillas graduated from the El Paso Police Academy in 1988 and rose through the ranks to be named Deputy Chief in 2009.
The next leader of the city’s police force will oversee a department whose budget has grown 27% in the last five years. In fiscal year 2023, the city allocated $192 million to the Department, and one of the key drivers was collectively bargained wage increases. The department comprises about 1,131 sworn officers and 271 civilian employees. It serves a population of approximately 700,000 in 256 square miles and operates five regional command centers throughout the city.
