April 12, 2010 - WLKY

A top city leader from Dallas was in Louisville to get feedback on Metro Police Chief Robert White.

White is one of six finalists to be the next police chief in Dallas.

His future here in Louisville is uncertain, in part, because the term of his current boss, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, will be over at the end of the year.

Three of the candidates for the Dallas job are from within that police department. The other three, including White, are from other cities.

Only WLKY News was there as Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman greeted Dallas city manager Mary Suhm.

Suhm sat down with Hartman and K.A. Owens, who represented the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights group to ask questions about White.

“Since Chief White has been around, there really hasn't been any instances of stressed relations,” Hartman said.

Owens also told Suhm that White met with key civil rights leaders the first week after being named metro police chief and called him one of the best chiefs in his lifetime.

When Suhm asked if the chief had any weaknesses, Owens said no.

“It would be great if Chief White wanted to retire here, but the world is set up for talented people to share their gifts,” Owens said.

Earlier in the day, Suhm also met with Abramson.

“If anybody asks from any other community, I'd have to be honest and say he's one of the finest in the country,” Abramson said.

“You guys like your chief a lot. That's been my experience as I visit with him, too. Really straight forward, really lot of integrity,” Suhm said.

When Suhm was done with her meetings, White came to take her to the airport.

“The only job that I have aggressively pursued is Dallas and I'm not going to do anything until I figure out where I am as relates to this process. Until then, I'll see what happens after that,” White said.

White said he's been contacted by several other cities about running their police departments, but won't act on those requests until the Dallas situation is resolved.

Abramson said he's been contacted by a leader of another large city with a new mayor about White, but wouldn't name the city.

One city that fits that description and is looking for a new police chief is Atlanta.

White would neither confirm nor deny he's been contacted by Atlanta and multiple calls and e-mails to the Atlanta mayor's office have gone unanswered.

White has been metro chief since the beginning of merged government in 2003.

He also led the merger of the Jefferson County and Louisville Police departments.

Suhm said she appreciates and admires White's role in that merger.

She said a final decision on the new Dallas police chief will be made by the end of the month.