Search narrows for new APD chief of police

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin has named two finalists in the search for the next chief of police, according to an internal memo sent to the mayor and city council.

Those two candidates are Lisa Davis, the assistant chief of the Cincinnati Police Department and Jeffrey Norman, the chief of the Milwaukee Police Department.

Lisa Davis

Davis currently serves as an assistant chief over Cincinnati PD's investigations bureau.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she has served as Cincinnati's assistant chief since 2019, and has worked at the department for roughly 30 years.

"She created a city-wide problem-solving unit trained to address crime and disorder in chronically violent locations, reducing overall crime and increasing the quality of life for area residents," according to information provided about the candidates sent in an internal memo to the mayor's office and city council.

She was also recently in the running for chief positions in Toledo, Ohio and Oakland, Calif., according to various news outlets.

Jeffrey Norman

Norman has served with the Milwaukee Police Department since 1996, and in 2021, he was sworn in as the chief of the department.

Prior to taking on the role of chief, he worked as a detective in the robbery, violent crimes and homicide divisions. He also served as a lieutenant in both the property crimes division and the metropolitan division.

"While a commander of Milwaukee’s District 3, Chief Norman instituted robust community engagement for his team, a mission he still holds today," the city's internal memo about the Austin chief candidates states.

Norman has appeared on various national news outlets over the course of the past two weeks to discuss the police department's role with the RNC in town this week.

KXAN is digging further into these candidates and speaking with law enforcement groups for additional insight, check back for updates.