By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
NEW HOPE — The search for the borough’s new police chief has been whittled down to two candidates.
Thirty-five applicants, one from as far away as the Netherlands and the rest from surrounding states, were interested in heading the New Hope Police Department and sent in their resumes, according to Mayor Laurence Keller, who oversees the borough’s Police Department.
A consultant, SafeCity Solutions of Reading, Pa., narrowed the field to 10. Applicants then were asked to respond to a questionnaire by video, Mayor Keller said. Based on their videos, five were asked to return to the borough for interviews.
A three-member search committee and Mayor Keller sat in on the oral interviews. The interview process was conducted by four police chiefs, supplied by SafeCity Solutions, and the firm made recommendations for the two finalists.
The borough’s three-member search committee consisted of council members Richard Hirschfield and Claire Shaw and President Sharyn Keiser.
Mr. Hirschfield described the selection process as “very rigorous, all-day testing.”
He added, “The consultants did a terrific job.”
The two applicants will be invited back to the borough for a question-and-answer session with the council and the mayor within the next week or so, Mayor Keller said. He said he could not divulge their names or where they are from because the other three candidates first must be notified.
The top cop’s position became open when Chief Rick Pasqualini resigned. He became police chief of Newtown Township on June 1.
”I don’t think Chief Pasqualini can ever be replaced,” Mayor Keller said. “He was a very unique chief. He just did a terrific job.”
At the same time, Mayor Keller said it would be unfair to expect anyone to lead the same way Chief Pasqualini did because each person leads in his or her own style. He said either of the finalists would be qualified to lead the borough’s Police Department.
”I think both of them have qualifications to do a very, very good job in the New Hope community and keep the balance between the merchants, residents and tourists that come to our town,” Mayor Keller said.
