Names Of Wauwatosa Police Chief Candidates Released

WAUWATOSA, WI — The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission Thursday released the names of the three candidates for the next police chief.

James McGillis, Jeffrey Norman and David Salazar were named by the commission after completing the assessment center as part of the most recent step in police chief recruitment.

Jeffrey Norman is currently the acting police chief of the Milwaukee Police Department. Norman was appointed in 1996 and was promoted to assistant chief in 2020. He oversaw the criminal investigations bureau and the inspections division within the Milwaukee police.

David Salazar is a captain in the Milwaukee Police Department. Salazar was appointed in 1996 and promoted to captain in 2013. He oversaw several Milwaukee police organizations like the intelligence fusion center, the court administration/central booking division and the criminal investigation bureau - property crimes division.

James MacGillis is a drug intelligence officer for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He retired from the Milwaukee Police Department in January 2021 where he was a captain of police and director of training.

The commission posted the headshots and biographies of the candidates as well.

Norman has been the acting chief for Milwaukee since December and wasn't selected as a finalist for a permanent position by Milwaukee's Fire and Police Commission, the Journal Sentinel reported.

Norman previously told the Journal Sentinel that he planned to stay in Milwaukee until told otherwise. Meanwhile, the search for a police chief in Milwaukee is paused after former chief Alfonso Morales had his demotion reversed in court.

The Wauwatosa Fire and Police Commission will meet on June 9 to determine final candidates. The discussion will be held in closed session as permitted by Wisconsin state law, commission president Dominic Leone said. Finalists will be listed on the city website June 10.

Final candidates will participate in a public interview scheduled for June 14, Leone said. The commission is currently seeking residents' questions for the interview before June 7.

Wauwatosa Acting Chief Luke Vetter was sworn in Tuesday after former chief Barry Weber retired.