SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The hiring process for South Bend’s police review board director is getting a major overhaul.
It comes after the ouster of Josh Reynolds from the position last year. Reynolds was hired unilaterally by the city clerk without any input from the public. That fact along with Reynolds’s questionable record as a police officer in Indianapolis miffed Mayor James Mueller who called for his firing.
The power to fire Reynolds originally rested with Clerk Dawn Jones, but the city’s Common Council transferred that power to Mueller who subsequently relieved Reynolds of his duties as director.
Now, whoever is hired to replace Reynolds will be going through a lot more scrutiny.
“It’s time for the mayor to fulfill his commitment to the citizens and create a transparent process as we select and appoint those who will take on the duties of the citizens’ review board,” said Common Council President Sharon McBride (D).
That process has been laid out. It will be a three-round process consisting of initial interviews followed by public input and comment periods on potential candidates, and it will also include a background check and a deep dive into their social media history.
“We heard loud and clear that (the public) did not like (the previous) process and they did not feel included in that process,” added Councilor Sheila Niesgodski (D). “That’s why we have intentionally taken out time to articulate that the steps here are very open, very transparent.”
Councilors have a list of 33 candidates for the job now and will begin the interview process immediately. Mayor James Mueller will make the final determination on who gets the job.
