Bakersfield is moving closer to selecting its next police chief, with city leaders advancing two internal candidates to the final stage of the search.
City Manager Christian Clegg said the process has included civil service reviews, oral exam panels and multiple community listening sessions designed to identify leadership qualities beyond technical credentials.
“Anybody who gets to this final stage is going to have the technical qualifications,” Clegg said. “What really makes the difference are leadership traits, character, and the ability to connect with the community.”…