AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Two of the seven finalists to be Austin's next police chief have said they are no longer under consideration for the position.
On Wednesday, Wichita (Kan.) Police Chief Gordon Ramsay and DeKalb County (Ga.) Chief Mirtha Ramos both announced they were no longer in the running to be Austin's next top cop.
"I am no longer in the running for the Austin police chief position and am forever grateful for the support and kind words of those of you who reached out," Ramsay said in a statement to Wichita's KNSS Radio. "It meant a lot. This process confirmed to me WPD is way ahead of others in many, many ways – due to the efforts of many of you. While of course, it is disappointing, I have way too much to be grateful for to give the news much energy."
"I appreciate the opportunity to continue working with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, Public Safety Director Joseph Lumpkin and the courageous men and women of the police department as we use American Rescue Plan funding to implement our strategic plan to transform law enforcement," Ramos said in an emailed statement to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Ramos and Ramsay were two of seven finalists announced for the position. The remaining five are expected to appear at two community meeting events that are scheduled for next week.
A total of 46 applicants applied for the police chief job.
