Michael G. Denney Age: 57 Family: Wife (Gail); Daughters: Jill, Amanda and Sarah; Grandchildren: Hunter and Kaleb Home: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Michael Denney, assistant police chief with the Mesa Police Department in Arizona, responded to a series of questions the Alaska Star posed to the final three candidates for the vacant police chief position at the Anchorage Police Department. Last week, the Star published the responses from the other two candidates Mark Mew and Stephen Smith, both of Eagle River.

Why did you apply for the position of APD police chief?

The department is an agency that seems open to innovation. This is extremely important in a time of fiscal distress since police departments must learn to do as much as we can with what we have. That is not easy and it requires critical evaluation of everything we do and how we are doing it. Second, my conversations with various members of the Anchorage Police Department have indicated there is a strong alliance between management, the rank and file and the labor organization ... that all seem to be in agreement with the goals of the department. This is different than what I have seen in other agencies. Finally, as I began my search for a police chief position, my wife and I looked for a place where we could spend the rest of our lives and where we could become involved in the community. Anchorage fills the bill on both these criteria.

What qualities do you have that make you the ideal candidate for the position?

I bring a unique blend of experiences to the department. Having worked in nearly every possible role as a police officer and police executive, I have been exposed to a broad spectrum of ideas, concepts and approaches in law enforcement. Some of these worked, some did not. But the important fact is that each was an attempt to improve the quality of a department's service to its community. I am also a licensed attorney in Arizona where I worked as a prosecutor of major felony crimes for several years. This gives me an additional viewpoint from "the outside" but within the criminal justice system that is of great value.

What is the most pressing area that needs to be addressed with regards to the Anchorage Police Department?

Because I am not a member of the Anchorage community or the police department, I cannot give the same sort of specific answers that the other candidates might be able to. Budgetary issues are a critical concern as they affect the department's staffing and other vital services. Staffing is also a concern for any police department but I do not look at this as merely a numbers game. We know that we cannot count on continual growth in our personnel and related expenditures. We must use what we have wisely and efficiently. This may mean taking calculated risks for innovation and effectiveness. While I do have ideas about concepts and approaches that I would like to consider for implementation, I cannot state with certainty whether or not those concepts or approaches are feasible. I need to see the agency from the inside. I need to understand what is being done and why things are being done the way they are. Rest assured that where I identify the need for change, change will occur as part of a well-conceived and considered plan. Each community has its challenges and effective law enforcement does not entail a "cookie cutter" approach to address these. Instead, the police department must tailor its methods to meet those unique challenges.

With the Glenn Highway to patrol and the growing population of Chugiak-Eagle River, do you think that there should be a fourth patrol car and officer assigned to each shift in the North District?

Before making a commitment to redeployment of man power, I would want to see statistical data regarding calls for service, the types of calls, the travel time for the officers responding, the time on scene and projections for additional growth in the Chugiak-Eagle River area. That data, and the recommendations, must come from the command and supervisory staff working in that area.

As to the patrolling of the Glenn Highway, again, I would (look at) current data on traffic flow, traffic violations, crashes and the like. I am a believer in giving the responsible commanders the tools they need to accomplish their missions. However, those tools will be provided when the justification exists.

One must keep in mind that working traffic is a unique situation. Unlike other more reactive police services, traffic officers tend to create their own statistical data based on the vitality of the officers themselves. So, what statistics exist today may well be eclipsed by the efforts of a few dedicated traffic personnel.

What can the people of Anchorage expect from you as police chief, if you're selected to fill the vacancy?

Leadership, visibility and transparency as to the department's activities.

Leadership involves many aspects but most importantly, it involves the willingness to be the "point man" in times of crisis and glory. As police chief , I will be the person whom the public sees standing before it when significant events, good or bad, happen in our city. I also will be the one who stands before the employees of the department to praise their efforts or to explain to them when situations arise that are painful to our agency. That is not a job for the public information officer. That is a job for the department's leadership-at all levels. I would expect all department command and executive staff to take a similar approach.

I will spend as much time in the community as I possibly can. I will meet with employees of the Anchorage Police Department, our business and community leaders, and the public at large. I will continue to build on the community outreach and partnerships that already have been fostered.

Finally, the citizens of Anchorage will not have to wonder what is happening at, or with, their police department. With the aforementioned community activities, they will hear first-hand about their department activities.

Moreover, the press will become a valued partner in informing the people of Anchorage about what is going on at the department.

This does not mean that the press can expect completely unfettered access to everything we are doing.

There are those situations wherein investigative integrity or other sensitive issues are at risk and the information relating to them should not be released. However, these will be the exceptions rather than the rule.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, November 5, 2009.