5 finalists named in search for Bellevue police chief

The Bellevue Police Department has announced five finalists in its search for a new police chief.

The candidates will meet with members of the community on Thursday and reporters on Friday. Once a selection is made, the new chief will take over for Interim Police Chief Jim Montgomery, who replaced Chief Linda Pillo following her retirement earlier this year.

The department released the following biographical information on the finalists:

Assistant Police Chief Matthew Clark/
Minneapolis Police Department

Assistant Chief Clark began his public safety career in 1989 as a volunteer firefighter and soon after became a part-time and reserve police officer. Chief Clark joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1993 and was promoted to sergeant in 1999 and lieutenant in 2007. In 2012 he became assistant chief.

Chief Clark is a results-focused leader driven to create safe environments for citizens, enhance operational effectiveness and improve livability in communities. His career accomplishments include establishing the nationally recognized Minneapolis Police goals and performance program, commanding public safety operations for the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, holding command positions during the 35W Bridge Collapse and 2008 Republican National Convention and managing the Chief’s Citizen’s Advisory Council.

Chief Clark holds a Master of Public Administration and Human Services from Concordia University, St. Paul, and a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and public administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership Institute, the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy.

Deputy Chief Jim Jolliffe/
Bellevue Police Department

Deputy Chief Jolliffe began his 31-year police career in Orange County, Calif. Hired by the Bellevue Police Department in 1991, he has worked assignments in patrol, traffic, K-9, investigations, narcotics, personnel services, SWAT and the bomb squad. Chief Jolliffe has been a deputy chief since 2010, serving assignments in operations and support services.

He is a member of Leadership Eastside and is on the Board of Directors for Lifewire, an organization that has been providing domestic violence services and programs to the community since 1982.

Chief Jolliffe has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from American Military University, and has attended several executive leadership programs including the FBI National Academy and the FBI Northwest Command College.

Chief Mitch McCann/
Simi Valley (California) Police Department

Chief McCann has been in law enforcement for over 29 years. He began his career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1985. He transferred to the Beverly Hills Police Department in 1988, where he worked for 24 years. In July 2012, he became the chief of the Simi Valley Police Department.

Chief McCann is involved in his community and sits on the Board of Directors of the Police Foundation, Education Foundation and the Simi Valley Community Foundation and has been an active member of Rotary International.

He received a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. He is a graduate of California’s Command College, where he was the Dorothy Harris Award recipient for excellence, and also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Chief McCann is Vice President of the California Police Officers Association, Chairperson of the Law and Legislature Committee and a member of the California Police Chiefs Association.

Assistant Chief Nicholas Metz/
Seattle Police Department

Assistant Chief Metz has been with the Seattle Police Department for 31 years. He started his career as a patrol officer in both the downtown and Rainier Valley neighborhoods, before becoming an undercover-detective in narcotics. Since his promotion to assistant chief in October 2001, he has been the chief of investigations, the chief of field support, as well as chief of operations (patrol, investigations, and special operations).

Chief Metz is on the boards of directors for the Behind the Badge Foundation and the YWCA of Seattle-King County, a Special Advisor to the Code-4 Northwest (a crisis referral service for First Responders and their families) and recent past-Chair of the King County Police Chiefs’ Association.

Chief Metz graduated from City University with a Bachelor of Science in law enforcement administration. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, and the FBI’s National Executive Institute.

Assistant Chief Raul Munguia/
Austin Police Department

Assistant Chief Munguia joined the Austin Police Department in 1984 as a patrol officer. He has been assigned to patrol, the motorcycle unit, internal affairs, narcotics, traffic investigations, recruiting, special events, and was commander of the Central East Command. Chief Munguia was promoted to assistant chief in August 2010.

In an organization with approximately 2,300 sworn law enforcement and support personnel, Chief Munguia oversees the day to day operations of the Austin Police Department. Familiar with the city’s diverse citizenry and ever-expanding nature, Chief Munguia serves as a key asset to the success of the department and the safety of the community. He serves with a “hands-on” leadership style, frequently patrolling areas within his region in an effort to gain first-hand knowledge of each sector’s key issues.

Chief Munguia earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science from Mid-Western State University.