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SF's Interim Police Chief Gets Boost With Endorsement From Police Officer's Association

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco Police Officers Association Sunday endorsed interim Police Chief Tony Chaplin for the permanent post of police chief as at least 60 applications for the job are reviewed, a statement by president Martin Halloran said on the association's website.

Halloran posted the statement at 1:45 p.m. at https://www.facebook.com/SFPOA/.

"The SFPOA, which represents over 99 percent of all SFPD officers, is looking for the right leader at the right time, Halloran said. "The POA believes that Tony Chaplin is that candidate."

Chaplin was appointed to the interim post after former Chief Greg Suhr resigned in May in the wake of an officer-involved shooting in the Bayview District that killed 29-year-old Jessica Williams. It was third such fatal police shooting in six months. One of those involved Mario Woods, who was shot to death in the same neighborhood as Williams.

Suhr had been with the department for 33 years.

Chaplin has been with the department for 26 years and is the

former head of the department's homicide detail.

Ralph Andersen & Associates, a Southern California-based search firm, is conducting the search for a new chief on behalf of city officials.  The company is also conducting a search for a new police chief in Oakland.

Former Chief Sean Whent left his post abruptly in June as attention grew around a sex scandal involving Oakland police officers. That scandal has grown to include officers from other Bay Area cities.

In San Francisco, 11 applicants to the police chief's position are current or former employees of the department, San Francisco Police commissioners said Thursday.

Commissioners have been asking residents through a series of meetings what characteristics and experience they would like a new chief to have.

Commissioners gathered that information through a series of community and police surveys.

The results will be given to recruiters with Ralph Andersen & Associates.

The police commission is scheduled to meet in a closed session on Sept. 14 and on future dates to review the information to decide which applicants to interview.

After the interviews, the commission will select three finalists for Lee to consider.

© Copyright 2016 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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