I’m guilty.

I am guilty of believing that the process for selecting our next police chief would be transparent and authentically informed by the community. But more importantly, I’m guilty of encouraging others around me to also have hope and to give their own time to the process.

The news on Aug. 23 that Mayor (Lee) Brand decided to select an “interim” (to serve until 2021) chief from within the department, who did not even apply for the position — and despite reporting to suggest that there were several quality applicants to choose from — unfortunately told me and many others that this hope in the process was foolish. That is why I am writing to apologize.