When the Los Angeles Police Commission held its special meeting Friday, there was only one topic on the agenda. This is an important decision that must be made within about six weeks. The question was who would step in on an interim basis as Police Chief Michelle Moore's tumultuous tenure comes to an end. end?

Depending on who you ask, an interim police chief is either just a stand-in to move things along while the search for a permanent replacement is made, or the person is someone who has a hard time deciding what kind of chief the police department needs. – Either be a strategic partner to help Mayor Bass understand. We serve one of the nation's largest and most diverse cities.

Connie Rice, who served on former President Obama's 21st Century Policing Task Force, said the interim chief's job will be to provide the mayor with a “CAT scan of the state of the department” and “initiate a reset and identify priorities. The goal is to provide a detailed assessment of what is happening. Areas that have made progress, areas that have slipped, and areas that need repair. ”

Rice said if a police department is “too top-heavy” or full of people ready to retire, a new permanent chief will need the skills to build a department from the ground up. As crime moves online, the new chief will need advanced cyber skills.

“What I'm realizing right now is that the department needs an interim chief who is familiar with the Los Angeles Police Department,” Rice said in an interview. …You don't want anyone to know where the bathroom is. ”

On the other hand, Rice said, “I don't want anyone in the company.''

Former Police Chief Steve Soboroff would add at least one more condition. “I think the goal is to make the caretaker government as interim as possible,” he said, adding that he does not want to compete for the top job. He said there should be a rule that “a person who becomes interim chief cannot become police chief.''

Richard Teffunk, the commission's executive director, said Friday's nearly four-hour meeting was the first time the commission had met behind closed doors to discuss the selection of an interim director, but that “this is a matter of staff discretion.” Work has been carried out.”

Tefunk said the goal is to have “an interim staff in place before Secretary Moore retires and then work on a permanent replacement.”

Mr. Moore and Mr. Bass announced earlier this month that Mr. Bass would step down at the end of February after five and a half years at the company.

Moore was reelected a year ago to serve a second five-year term and was scheduled to serve for two to three years. Moore's idea was to hand over the job to a new chief ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

However, his tenure was controversial, and he announced his resignation on January 12.

“I know I made mistakes and mistakes,” Moore said at the time. “But I am also confident that my work has achieved success in a wide range of areas unparalleled by any other law enforcement agency in this country.”

Moore said the department has become more diverse under his watch. Recent LAPD data shows crime is on the decline.

At the same time, the department was facing several scandals that tarnished his time as a top cop.

For example, a deputy chief is said to have pursued an officer with whom he was romantically involved, and an officer in the gang unit is suspected of theft and illegal traffic stop.

Brief public comments before the Police Commission adjourned on Friday ranged from civil but critical to profane and unprintable.

Over the course of about five minutes, four men targeted Moore, the police commission, the interim chief selection process, and a Black woman in a leadership position.

One commenter asked God to bless the outgoing chief, while another wished Moore a “safe exit.”

“We're entering a new phase,” said Steve Rogers, who regularly attends committee meetings. “We want you to elect future chiefs to police your community, and to make them more accessible by doing public relations on your website and letting people know when meetings are being held in your community.” I hope you choose it.”

Activist Philip Tabi was more direct and dismissive.

“During Mr. Moore's tenure as police chief over the past several years, we all learned exactly what we do not want in the leader of America's largest police department,” he told commissioners.

“We don't want a chief who continues to make bad decisions that put our community at risk. Mike has caused serious damage and severed community ties, and he has shown no remorse.”

Friday's meeting ended without any announcements. Tefunk said the session was “about the process, the candidates and moving forward.” The selection will be on the committee's agenda again on Tuesday.

Tefunk said that according to the city charter, the commission will appoint an interim chief, but “for a permanent selection, the commission will work with the city general manager.” [LAPD] Contact Human Resources to identify candidates. Finally, candidates are submitted to the mayor in the order of numbers 1, 2, and 3, and the mayor selects them. ”

However, that is still a long way off. First, the committee will find a replacement, which could happen “in the coming weeks,” he said. He said the two searches would be “on different trajectories,” but that the search for an interim director was “more urgent.”