This is your Friday update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.
El Paso Police Chief Search Begins: The city of El Paso has started the search for a new police chief. The national recruitment firm, SGR (Strategic Government Resources), is leading the search and already has begun meeting with council members, community leaders and law enforcement associations. SGR also has developed a survey to gather community input on what characteristics the new chief should have. The survey can be found here:
English: City of El Paso Police Chief Community Survey
Spanish: Encuesta Comunitaria del Jefe de Policía de El Paso
The police department is being led by interim Chief Peter Pacillas, who was appointed in February after Chief Greg Allen died in January.
Animated Feature Gets Free Screening at Plaza Theatre: CreativElPaso and the El Paso Film Festival will host a special free screening of El Pasoan Zach Passero’s new full-length, hand-animated feature, “The Weird Kidz,” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso. The animated feature will be part of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market, the world’s largest and most prestigious animation festival. The event, which takes place in France, will present “The Weird Kidz” twice in June. Passero grew up in El Paso and graduated from Coronado High School. Much of the film’s storyline is inspired by the animator’s time growing up as a typical ’80s latch-key kid. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the Plaza screening. A question-and-answer session with cast and crew will follow. For more information, please go to theweirdkidz.com.
Neighborhood Academy Graduation: Forty-five El Pasoans from various neighborhoods will be part of the city of El Paso Neighborhood Leadership Academy graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the 17th Floor of the Blue Flame Building, 304 Texas Ave. The program gives participants an inside look at how thecity government works. The program, which aims to develop neighborhood leaders, started in 2007. Some graduates have gone on to serve on city boards and committees or have established their own neighborhood associations. For information, call (915) 212-1680 or (915) 212-1681 or visit https://www.elpasotexas.gov/community-and-human-development/neighborhood-leadership-academy/.
