Get to know the top 4 contenders for Naples police chief.

After reviewing 175 applications, Naples city officials selected four candidates for Naples police chief, two of whom were affiliated with the department.

With the resignation of former Naples Police Chief Tom Weschler in June, the post became open. Since then, the city has been looking for a new chief of police, according to a recent article by Kendall Little of the Naples Daily News.

Ciro Dominguez, Matthew Fletcher, Jack McNiff, and Kristen Ziman, the four contenders left, will be present for a meet-and-greet on Friday at Baker Park, arranged by city officials.

Kristen Ziman

Before departing to work as a consultant for the Department of Justice, Ziman spent five years as the police chief of the Aurora Police Department in Illinois. Since 1991, she has had some involvement with the Aurora Police Department.

Attorney General Merrick Garland tasked Ziman with investigating the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.

In addition, Ziman writes, speaks in public, trains, and consults.

Ziman stated in her candidacy for the position of chief of police in Naples, “My specialization in Homeland Security will allow me to embrace technology as a crime-fighting and solving tool.” I want to continue serving the citizens at NPD because my commitment to them has been built on mutual trust.”

John “Jack” McNiff

Since 2001, McNiff has held the position of chief of police in Wayne Township, New Jersey. Serving over 56,000 citizens, he oversees a multi-million-dollar budget in his capacity as chief.

McNiff’s résumé is stacked with accolades and certifications, from defensive tactics and drug education to life-saving skills. “Highly trained threat manager with background in safety risks, hostage negotiation, and crisis intervention,” is how he characterizes himself.

Between the Wayne Township Police Department and the West Caldwell Police Department in New Jersey, he has worked in law enforcement for 27 years.

Matthew Fletcher

Fletcher has been employed with the Naples Police Department since 1990 and currently holds the position of acting chief of police. Since 2020, he has served as the deputy head of police.

Naples has been the scene of Fletcher’s whole police career. In 1990, he began his career as a police officer and advanced to the position of assistant chief.

Last year, Fletcher oversaw police operations during Hurricane Ian.

Ciro Dominguez

Dominguez worked for seven years as a colonel in the Tampa-based Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office before retiring. Prior to becoming a colonel, Dominguez worked for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority at Tampa International Airport for ten years as the deputy chief of police.

In his ten years of experience as a police sergeant in the local department, Dominguez also has ties to Naples.

Dominguez claims that his 38 years of expertise in law enforcement make him the ideal candidate to lead the Naples police department.

greet and mingle
The public can meet the four candidates on Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Eva Sudgen-Gomez Center in Baker Park, which is situated at 50 Riverside Circle.

Attendees are welcome to come, but city officials request that they RSVP through email to Naples Public Outreach Manager Monique Barnhart by Wednesday at 3 p.m. mbarnhart@naplesgov.com is Barnhart’s email address.

The article originally appeared on the Naples Daily News.