AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin on Tuesday announced the search for its next chief of police has been whittled down to two top finalists.

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said the two are Lisa Davis, an assistant police chief for the Cincinnati Police Department, and Jefferey Norman, Milwaukee’s chief of police.

What You Need To Know

  • The City of Austin on Tuesday announced its search for a new police chief has been narrowed to two finalists

  • Jefferey Norman is the current chief of the Milwaukee Police Department

  • Lisa Davis is an assistant chief with the Cincinnati Police Department

  • The two will be introduced at a meet-and-greet event on July 23 at the Palmer Vent Center in Austin 

Austin’s current interim police chief, Robin Henderson, did not seek the job and is planning to retire.

Norman has been in the spotlight this week as Milwaukee has beefed up security at the Republican National Convention in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday.

According to the city, Norman has been with the Milwaukee Police Department since 1996. In 2002, he was promoted from officer to detective, serving in the department’s robbery, violent crimes and homicide divisions.

In 2010, Norman was promoted to lieutenant. That was followed by a promotion to captain in 2017 and a promotion to assistant chief in 2020. In December 2020, he was appointed acting chief of the department, and in November 2021, he was sworn in as chief.

Norman holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a Master of Public Administration degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School. He is a licensed attorney.

Davis is currently the Cincinnati Police Department’s investigations bureau commander, overseeing the homicide, major offenders, narcotics and personal crimes divisions.

Davis’s biography says she specializes in using problem-solving and evidence-based policing to address crime and disorder. 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.”

Davis’s biography additionally states that she is passionate about community policing and developed a special unit to address at-risk population victimization, which includes the LGBTQ+ community.

Davis holds a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and has received several awards, including the Superior Achievement in Law Enforcement and the Award of Valor.

“The search for a permanent Chief of Police was at the top of my priority list when I came on as Austin City Manager in May,” Broadnax wrote in a news release. “I am confident we have identified the best candidates that will enable us to select an exemplary, experienced leader to guide the dedicated men and women of the Austin Police Department while continuing to collaborate and build trust with the community.”

The city said the two candidates will be introduced at a meet-and-greet event on Tuesday, July 23, at the Palmer Event Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 6.

In addition, community members are asked to submit questions that may be used during a moderated discussion. They can be submitted on the Speak Up Austin page or by calling 311 or 512-974-2000.