LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The president of the Louisville Fraternal Order of Police union says he and his members hope the new Louisville police chief is a leader first, and a manager second.
But there's one opinion the union will not take to Mayor Fischer as he makes his selection from among five candidates over the next few weeks.
FOP president Sgt. Dave Mutchler says the officers he represents have strong opinions on who would be the best chief.
But as a group, the union is stressing the "qualities" it wants in a chief, and not one specific candidate from the five finalists.
"The FOP and myself are making it abundantly clear to the powers that be what we would like in a chief, but we're not going to make a public endorsement," Mutchler said.
In comments on the FOP website, officers prefer candidates they see as most sensitive to colleagues on the street.
Four of the candidates are on the metro police department or have worked for its predecessor departments in Louisville and Jefferson County.
They include:
Steve Conrad -- Chief of Police in Glendale, Ariz. and former LMPD assistant chief
Yvette Gentry -- LMPD Deputy Chief / Patrol Bureau Commander
Vincent Robison -- LMPD Deputy Chief and Chief of Staff
Rick Sanders -- Chief of the Jeffersontown Police Department
Glenn Skeens -- Chief of Police in Owensboro, Ky.
Mutchler says none of the candidates has asked for an FOP endorsement.
Mayor Fischer has said he wants to announce the replacement for former chief Robert White by April 1.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All rights reserved.
Sgt. Dave Mutchler, Louisville FOP president
