TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Before the final candidates met with the people of Tallahassee, they also met with ABC 27.
The hiring process has come under scrutiny. Monday, all three candidates told ABC 27 they want to focus on the people they could be serving.
But part of that is how the people are viewing them right now.
As we know, there's been a spotlight on Major Lawrence Revell ever since Commissioner Bill Proctor revealed that Revell once killed someone in the line of duty.
ABC 27 asked all three candidates how that story has changed the hiring process moving forward.
Revell told us Monday, he doesn't think the past is hurting his chances. Below is what all three candidate's had to say about Commissioner Proctor's revelations last week:
TPD Major Lawrence Revell: "If anything, it has solidified what I believe about this town. The community response since this started has been overwhelming from all parts and the support has been tremendous. It confirmed what I already knew and why I love this town."
TPD Major Lonnie Scott: "Ask anyone. I'm a business finance graduate. The best predictor of future performance is past performance. Examine my past performance. Examine the neighborhoods that I worked with and examine the areas that I've worked with."
St. Petersburg Assistant Police Chief Antonio Gilliam: "You kind of get accustomed to having the scrutiny on you all the time so I don't think much has changed. Having your personnel file made public is something that you're prepared for because when you become a police officer they treat you like you're in a bubble from day one. So it's pretty much on par with what we're used to in law enforcement."
We also combed through TPD's personnel files for both Scott and Revell ourselves, but nothing has stood out thus far. We're still waiting to get Gilliam's but that has to come from the Saint Petersburg Police Department.
