New London — The city expects to post a job opening for the next police chief next week and this time around plans to enlist the community to help choose a candidate.

The posting was approved earlier this week by the city’s personnel board and will be posted after some minor tweaks, City Personnel Director Tina Collins said.

The search comes seven months after the retirement of former Chief Margaret Ackley, who worked for 30 years for the department but whose eight-year tenure as chief was at times marred by squabbles with the local police union and former mayor. Ackley still has a pending lawsuit against the city.

New London Chief Administrative Officer Steve Fields, a retired lieutenant colonel with the state police, said he is organizing a diverse group of community members to assist in the review of applications. He said the group will grade the applicants and offer a series of questions “germane to this diverse little dynamic community.”

Later in the process, Fields said he envisions a public meeting that will give the general public an opportunity to talk to the candidates. The ultimate decision on who will become chief rests in Mayor Michael Passero’s hands, but Fields said there will be a concerted effort to involve the community.

Fields said the city is looking for a chief who will take a proactive approach to policing and tackle quality-of-life issues.

“We’re looking for someone who wants to take the reins of leadership and lead ... someone with experience in a diverse community,” Fields said. “You can’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to this city. There are different needs and challenges here. We want whoever is the next police chief to recognize that.”

The minimum qualifications for the job include 15 years of experience in police supervisory or administrative positions, including at least six years above the division command level in a “diverse urban community with a population of at least 25,000.” The job posting also indicates that it is “preferred” that the previous policing experience was in New England.

The provision that the applicant have experience above the division command level, or rank of captain, rules out anybody at the department aside from Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard, who has been the acting chief since Ackley’s retirement.

Reichard has expressed interest in the job, and Mayor Passero consistently has expressed confidence in Reichard’s ability to run the department.

The next police chief also will have to live in the city and will have a contract, something the last chief did not have. Terms of the contract and salary will be subject of negotiations.

Fields said choosing the next chief will be a structured and deliberate process.

“We have stable leadership right now,” Fields said. “We have the ability to get this right.”

g.smith@theday.com