The Police Chief Appointment Advisory Committee interviewed the finalists for the position of police chief at a public meeting on Thursday in which Christopher Magnus, was the top choice. The panel was not unanimous in the choice, and some members expressed a desire to have had local choices from which to choose.
Magnus, who is currently chief in Richmond, CA, assured tha panel that Richmond, like Tucson is a sanctuary city.
The three finalists were: (click on name to see resume)
- Malik Aziz, 23 years Dallas TX, Police Department
- Rick Gregory, 31 years Law Enforcement primarily Florida
- Christopher Magnus, 37 Years Law enforcement
Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor is scheduled to retire in December, after 35 years with the Tucson Police Department.
According to the Contra Costa Times, “Police Chief Chris Magnus, who has drawn acclaim for his community-policing approach and helping drive down both crime and use of force by his officers in recent years, was front and center, facing the street while holding a white sign that said “#blacklivesmatter.” The photo quickly went viral on social media, the image of the uniformed chief with the popular hashtag a stark contrast to the anti-police sentiment many associate with it.” In April 2015, Magnus was sued for wrongful termination by an officer who claimed “that he was discriminated against after he reported to his supervisor that Magnus allegedly made sexual advances towards him. According to the lawsuit, the officer was assigned to a surveillance and protection detail outside of the private residence of Magnus and his husband after Magnus received threats from the community.”