UO students, faculty and staff are invited to take part in a campus public forum where people can comment on the hiring of Eugene’s next police chief.

Organized by the city of Eugene, the event will be Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Ford Alumni Center’s Giustina Ballroom. Pizza and beverages will be provided.

The city is in the first phase of the Eugene Police Department chief recruitment process, which includes eight public forums for key stakeholders and community members. The forums are a chance to hear from key constituencies, including the UO.

Participants at the forum will break into groups and, with guidance from UO and city facilitators, share ideas on the attributes and skills they would like to see in Eugene’s next law enforcement leader. With the exception of a brief welcome from UO Police Chief Matt Carmichael, no law enforcement officers will be present.

“We appreciate engaging in a recruitment process that explicitly makes clear the needs of diverse community members,” said Yvette Alex-Assensoh, vice president for equity and inclusion. “This type of broad process will help the committee identify the best possible public servant who has an inclusive leadership lens and understands the interplay of explicit and implicit bias in policing.”