The Boise Police Department could soon have a new police chief, and the public gets an opportunity next week to meet the three finalists.
Following a monthslong process, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, along with a seven-person committee made up of community leaders, announced in a Tuesday news release the selection of the finalists, all from out of state: Tomball (Texas) Police Chief Jeffery Bert, Tucson (Arizona) Police Assistant Chief Chris Dennison and The Dalles (Oregon) Police Chief Tom Worthy.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar announced his plans to retire in September. The nearly 30-year veteran of the department agreed to lead the department in 2022 after former chief Ryan Lee resigned at Mayor Lauren McLean’s request.
“He has an incredible commitment to service and will be missed by the department, the city and our community,” McLean previously said in a release. “I will always be grateful that he was willing to serve when I called.”
The three candidates — two of whom grew up in neighboring states — were part of an initial pool of 20 whose applications were reviewed by the city. That was whittled down to eight candidates and now to three, the release said. Public Sector Search & Consulting, a national police recruitment agency, was hired by the city to lead the search.
The candidates now will face a series of panel interviews and two open houses in Boise later this month.
The three men will arrive in Boise on Wednesday, July 17. They will tour the city and meet residents, officers and staff, the release said. Members of the public can meet the candidates at a forum from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the Boise Depot.
“The open house will begin with candidates answering a series of questions provided by the recruitment firm followed by time for residents to mingle and chat with the candidates informally,” the release said.
Here are the finalists.
Jeffrey Bert
Bert was selected to lead the Tomball Police Department in June 2020 after retiring from the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for 24 years. The Tomball force serves a Houston suburb of roughly 11,000.
“He leads a dedicated team of incredible officers and civilians who protect the City of Tomball with a community-oriented focus on serving the most vulnerable populations,” according to the city of Tomball’s website.
In an interview with Community Impact Newspaper, Bert said he had “no intention” of retiring completely, and after a friend reached out in 2019 about the position in Texas, he applied because he always wanted to lead a department.
“I thought I’d be one of those guys who die in their chair as a two-star chief,” Bert told the Texas outlet.
Bert began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he worked in patrol, investigations and narcotics divisions, along with having administrative roles, such as public information officer. With degrees in literature, Bert wrote several policies for the LAPD, including a guide to responding to homelessness, the city of Tomball’s website said.
He said his “most rewarding assignment” was working as a police commander in charge of the department’s community policing programs. “In this capacity, Bert professionalized and expanded youth programs, working with underserved and underprivileged youth and their families to ensure they had access to after-school activities, tutoring, and college scholarships,” the website said.
Chris Dennison
Dennison has been with the Tucson Police Department for over 20 years, according to the city of Tucson’s website. He serves as the assistant chief of police overseeing the department’s investigative services bureau.
A native of Tucson, he received his primary education in neighboring school districts, and graduated with an associate’s degree from Pima Community College in Arizona, the website said. He then attended Columbia Southern University, where he got his bachelor’s in criminal justice.
Dennison joined Tucson’s force, which numbers more than 800, as a sworn officer in 2004, but he started working with the department in 2002 as part of its Police Assist Group, the city’s website said. Six years later, Dennison was promoted to sergeant, where he worked as supervisor within one of the department’s substations. He also worked on a drug enforcement task force.
Tom Worthy
In 2021, Worthy was hired as the police chief in The Dalles, Oregon, and before joining the 25-person department, he worked for almost 30 years with the Oregon State Police.
The Pullman, Washington, native has spent most of his adult life in Oregon, joining the state police force in 1994, according to his LinkedIn. During his long stint, Worthy worked up the ranks and moved throughout Oregon, living in The Dalles, Salem and Portland, according to a story published by Northern Wasco County PUD.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in criminal justice, and later secured his master’s from the University of San Diego.
Worthy told the Columbia Gorge News in Hood River, Oregon, that his philosophy of policing is focused on “community.”
“We are not in (a) hurry to put everyone in jail, we can’t be … but we are in a hurry to solve community problems,” Worthy told the newspaper in 2021. “And we’re in a hurry to help victims, and make sure this community stays as safe as it can be.”
When he’s not working, Worthy told Northern Wasco County that he likes to do “family stuff,” such as mowing his lawn, spending time with his kids and fishing. He’s also a finalist to lead the Spokane Police Department, The Spokesman-Review reported.
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