In June, Shaker Heights Police Chief Jeffrey DeMuth announced he will be retiring in January 2023. After 33 years of protecting and serving the public as a Shaker Heights Police officer, the last six years as chief, Chief DeMuth will be sorely missed.
In an effort to find the ideal candidate for the position, the City has engaged with Public Sector Search & Consulting of Rocklin, California.
Public Sector created a community survey asking residents what qualifications and leadership qualities they believe our new chief should possess. That survey was posted on the City’s website for three weeks (July 1-22, 2022) and promoted with 13 posts on the City’s social media, each shared with eight neighborhood Facebook accounts. The survey was also emailed to subscribers of the City’s e-newsletter. Sign-up for ENews here.
The City also engaged with a diverse range of more than 40 stakeholders who participated in City-facilitated focus groups that took place from July 7-27.
Learn more about this community engagement below and click here to view the recruiting brochure.
Community Survey Results
Top three responses to: most important qualifications for next police chief
- Practices openness and transparency
- Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Proven successes in building community trust
Top three responses to: highest priorities for Police Department and new chief
- Integrating police responses with social service professionals for persons experiencing mental health challenges
- Strengthening police/community partnerships
- Holding officers/staff accountable
Thank you to all who participated in the survey! Public Sector used your input to create a recruitment brochure, viewable here.
Community Focus Groups
Also helping to shape the recruitment brochure was the input from a diverse range of more than 40 stakeholders in our city who participated in City-facilitated focus groups that took place from July 7-27. In an attempt to be representative of the entire Shaker community, the City invited residents representing the following organizations:
- Shaker Heights Development Corporation
- League of Women Voters of Shaker Heights
- Heinen’s
- Shaker Rocks
- The Gentlemen’s Cave Luxury Barber Lounge
- Equity Engineering
- Christ Episcopal Church
- East View Church
- St. Dominic Church
- NAACP Cleveland
- Black Lives Matter
- Laurel School
- Hathaway Brown School
- University School
- Shaker Heights Schools
- S.A.M.S. (Shaker African American Mothers Support)
- Shaker Heights Anti-Racism Coalition
- Boulevard Community Association
- Fernway Neighborhood Association
- Lomond Community Association
- Ludlow Community Association
- Malvern Community Association
- Thornton Park Neighborhood Association
- Fairmount Area Neighborhood Association
- Moreland on the Move Community Association
- Onaway Community Organization
- Sussex Community Association
- Safety & Public Works Committee (Citizen Members)
- Civil Service Commission (Citizen Members)
- Shaker Heights Citizens Police Association
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee