NORRISTOWN – Dozens of residents turned up Thursday evening to meet the two contenders vying to be the next chief of the Norristown Police Department.
It was a packed room inside the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, located at 2 W. Lafayette St., in downtown Norristown. Prospective candidates Lt. Frank Lombardo of the South Brunswick Township Police Department, in New Jersey, and Inspector Derrick Wood, of the Philadelphia Police Department, were asked a number of questions by area residents during the Thursday evening town hall.
In addition to 26 years of service, Lombardo has earned a PhD from George Washington University, according to a candidate selection process form.
Wood has had 23 years of service, 16 of which were as a supervisor, according to a candidate selection process form. He also earned an master’s in business administration from Holy Family University.
According to municipal officials, the next police chief would have 70 officers in his jurisdiction who’ve sworn to protect and serve approximately 35,000 residents. There are another 30 “civilian staff” assisting the law enforcement agency.
In addition to area residents, members of the Norristown Municipal Council were also present.
“Community input is crucial in filling one of the most important positions here in the municipality,” said President Derrick Perry in a statement. “Norristown is a diverse community unlike any other here in Montgomery County, and we want our residents to know the top law enforcement officer here is working to keep all of them safe.”
The public information session comes nearly four months after the departure of former Chief Mark Talbot, who left the law enforcement agency after eight years to serve as police chief in Hampton, Virginia. Lt. Todd Dillon has been serving as acting chief while municipal officials conducted a nationwide search.
However, Talbot left a legacy emphasizing the importance of fostering relationships with the public and community policing strategies that led to a “52 percent reduction in violence” and a 44 percent decrease “in all serious crimes,” Talbot told council members during a March meeting when comparing statistics from 2007-2013 and 2014-2020.
In answering a question from a local resident, both candidates acknowledged the former police chief.
“You hit the nail right on the head that what Mark did for eight years was a model to follow, and this is not a turnaround story whatsoever,” Lombardo said.
“He built a great foundation, I just want to build upon that,” Wood said, adding that if selected, he’d like to reach out to Talbot and ask him to be an adviser.
Wood and Lombardo also spoke of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed last Memorial Day in Minneapolis while in police custody. The incident resulted in the arrest of four Minneapolis police officers, including the conviction of Derek Chauvin.
“Our whole profession has changed since that day,” Wood said.
Resources for local youth and resources for officers and tools for anyone experiencing a mental health episode were also discussed. In sharing similar stances of communication strategies and training tools, Wood and Lombardo spoke of plans to to implement anti-bias training.
In addition, several representatives in the audience from the area’s Latinx community spoke Thursday, emphasizing the importance of the relationship that established with Talbot. Both candidates sought to reassure participants.
“We’re here to protect all of you no matter where you came from or what your status is,” Lombardo said.
But it came down to a simple question: Why did they want the job?
“I’m looking forward to a job that’s right here where I have the open door policy and I can talk to you all. That’s why I’m saying I don’t want it to be the last time I talk to you,” Wood said. “I want you to bother me, call me, say hello when we’re in the market together, everything because I feel like it’s gonna take all of us, all hands on deck to make the city a safer place.”
“I became a police officer to help people. I’d like to be a chief because I know this community has a lot of good things going for it,” Lombardo said. “We talked about … the development that’s going on and the extension to the turnpike, and all of these things took a lot of good people doing a lot of good things over a very long time. That excites me to do my piece to be part of a team that takes it to the next level. That’s why I want to not just be a chief, but be your chief.”
Both stressed the importance of maintaining a community policing philosophy, and they hoped to get to know many people in the city.
Community members attempted to get a better sense of the candidates’ personalities by asking some lighthearted questions.
One resident asked what candy they’d have in their office? Wood said Snickers and Reese’s Cups, while Lombardo favored M&M’s Peanut Chocolate Peanut Candy. Both answers were met with a chuckle from the audience.
Another resident wanted to gauge the candidates’ favorite sports teams. Woods declared his allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles. Lombardo disclosed he has “season tickets” to New York Giants games.
The forum ended with a round of applause as the candidates moved on to another interview with council members that evening. Municipal Administrator Crandall Jones anticipated that a decision would be made in about two weeks.
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Lombardo vs. Wood: Norristown Police Chief candidates meet with community - The Times Herald
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