ST. LOUIS, MO/January 4, 2018 (STL.News) Former St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson is aspiring to lead another police department in the Midwest.

Dotson is among three finalists being considered for the next police Chief with the Topeka Police Department. The two other finalists are Topeka Police Interim Chief Bill Cochran and Yakima, Washington, Police Chief Dominic Rizzi, Jr.

Dotson led the St. Louis Police Department for more than four years. Dotson retired from his position as police chief the day Mayor Lyda Krewson took office in April of last year, but stayed on with the department as a consultant.

Although Dotson‘s role as St. Louis’ top cop wasn’t lengthy, it could certainly be said that he left his mark.

During the Ferguson protests Dotson coined the phrase ‘the Ferguson Effect’, which was the idea that increased scrutiny of law enforcement that resulted in a spike in violent crime throughout the United States. That phrase became the subject of media publications and research on crime trends. It was even used in an FBI report.

In October of 2016, Dotson announced his run for mayor of the City of St. Louis.

“St. Louis is my city. St. Louis is our city. My goal is to make St. Louis an even better place to live, work and raise a family. That’s always been my goal – as a police officer, as the second highest ranking member of Mayor Slay’s administration, and, most recently, as chief of police. It is what I strive for every morning when I pin my badge on my uniform and join the eighteen hundred men and women of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in making this city a safer place to live and do business.” Dotson said in a released statement.

Dotson’s candidacy did not set well with his boss, Mayor Francis Slay, who decided not to seek another term. Slay’s concern was that Dotson’s campaign would interfere with his duties as police chief, stating that he didn’t want a “part-time” police chief.

About a month later, Dotson withdrew from the race, “After giving this a great deal of thought, I decided I could best serve my city by staying on as chief, and not running for mayor.”

This is Dotson’s second attempt to become police chief after retiring from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. He was a finalist for the job of police chief in Midland, Texas last October, but did not get the job.

Dotson will join the two other candidates for a meet and greet Thursday evening in Topeka. City officials said they plan to name the winning candidate this month.

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By Jill Enders – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (MS)

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