Relative newcomer named Mesa interim chief

Mesa police Operations Cmdr. Vicki Myers will lead the department as interim chief until City Manager Chris Brady finds a permanent replacement through a national recruitment process for outgoing Chief George Gascón.

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Myers, a relative newcomer in Mesa, joined the department in 2007 after last serving as chief deputy with the Ingham County Sheriff's Office in Mason, Mich., for nine years. Brady said that her past experience, combined with the fact that she's not vying for the chief's position for now, helped him arrive at the decision. Myers is stationed at Mesa police headquarters downtown.

"She has really been a shining star since she's been here in Mesa," said Brady, noting her experience as division commander between 2007 and 2009, working out of the Superstition Springs and Dobson police substations.

The selection doesn't come as a surprise. With all three city assistant chiefs expressing interest in the chief's permanent position, Brady was reluctant to appoint any one of them as interim chief, lest they get an edge over the others for their candidacy or hamper the internal dynamics and avoid rumors within the department.

"I was concerned about what impact that may have with the stability of the department," Brady said.

As for Myers, he said she's got experience within the department but is still "kind of an outsider," so she wouldn't be involved in "intrigue about what she may be doing."

Her charge is "to keep the good things going in the department," Brady added.

According to Myers' official resume, as operations commander, she assists the assistant chief of operations, John Meza, in "planning, directing and coordinating activities in the police department and is responsible for the supervision of police personnel and civilian staff."

Brady said she has experience and familiarity in dealing with budgeting items and staffing plans, especially in light of recent changes made in the department. Mesa police had to cut $15 million recently and, among other changes, reposition traffic and SWAT officers to help with patrol duties.

Gascón's last day in Mesa is July 24. He's scheduled to join the San Francisco Police Department Aug. 1 as its new police chief.

Brady also said he plans to find Gascón's replacement within six months in a similar fashion as last time, when he hired Gascón in 2006. A national recruiting firm will be hired sometime in July to scout for possible candidates. Once a pool of 10-12 "solid" candidates is short-listed, Brady plans to filter that down further and also involve community leaders and the City Council in providing their feedback on the three or four finalists.

"At the end of the day I want to pick the right police chief for Mesa," said Brady, adding that means "continuing to focus on fighting crime ... making the community feel safer ... and engaging the community as a resource."

Bryan Soller, president of the Mesa Fraternal Order of Police, a police union, said he believes Myers is "a good selection." Soller added that Myers has been keen on being a police chief some day, and this would be "a good steppingstone and a resume builder for her."

Interim chief’s education highlights:
M.P.A., Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich., 2003
B.A., Business, Northwood University, Midland, Mich., 2000
Graduate, FBI National Academy, University of Virginia, Quantico, VA., 1999