The candidates to become the next Tempe police chief has been narrowed to four and include the current interim leader of the department and a former Phoenix law enforcement veteran.

City Manager Andrew Ching said the four will be involved in further interviews later this month and “public input opportunities” will be announced soon.

The candidates are:

JOSIE MONTENEGRO

Montenegro, the interim chief, has worked for the department for 22 years in various roles, including as temporary assistant chief of the investigations division.

She has a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Montenegro is a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Department West Point Leadership Academy, the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the East Valley Hispanic Leadership Institute.

TOM VAN DORN

Van Dorn retired in 2019 as a commander in the Phoenix Police Department after 24 years with the department. He has served in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as a deputy county attorney – director of investigations.

Van Dorn has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and a juris doctor from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

He is a graduate of the Arizona State University Leadership Institute for Chief and Command Executives and the Arizona POST and Valley Leadership programs.

KENNETH MCCOY

McCoy retired in 2022 as chief of the Anchorage Police Department after 27 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran and served 10 years in the Alaska Army National Guard. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 2000.

McCoy has a bachelor’s degree in justice from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a certificate in Leading Diversity from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute.

TOM WORTHY

Worthy is serving as police chief of the City of The Dalles in Oregon. He previously served for 29 years with the Oregon State Police, reaching the rank of major.

Worthy has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Washington State University and a master’s degree in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego.

He is a graduate of the Oregon Executive Development Institute, the Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Institute and the FBI National Academy.

The search for a new chief began in February following former Chief Jeff Glover’s appointment by Gov. Katie Hobbs to serve as director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

According to the Tempe City Charter, the city manager has ultimate hiring authority for city employees, including hiring and management of the role of police chief.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.