Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad will announce the new chief of police Thursday. The announcement comes after the recently named chief, Antonio Gilliam, rescinded his acceptance of the job.
Gilliam told city officials earlier this month he would not take the job. In a letter he outlined concerns over his contract negotiations with the city. He described his frustration over two specific sticking points: He wanted to be able to select his own command staff, and wanted to secure a contract that would ensure he could only be fired for cause for six years after he accepted the job. But before a contract could be finalized, Lawrence Revel, one of three finalists who had been vying for chief, told media he would be named as second in command.
Gilliam pushed back on the idea, but some local leaders claim he was facing preassure to name Revel and point to that as his main reason for backing away from the positon.
Goad told members of the media the city would work quickly to name a new chief.
"We will not do another six-month process. It's important to have good leadership, good direction in TPD. We have good candidates," Goad said.
Goad said he would make a new selection from the top eight candidates named by a citizens advisory board. An announcement is scheduled for 10:30 Thursday morning at the Tallahassee Police Department.
