Whether you believe Buffalo's mayor and his staff have been conducting a full-out,

intensive national search for the next police commissioner, or whether you believe it has been

more along the lines of a cursory 2.0 version on a number of free Web sites, there's no doubt

that Buffalo deserves the best and brightest.

Some lawmakers are questioning whether the administration has made a significant effort in

finding a replacement for H. McCarthy Gipson, whom Mayor Byron W. Brown dumped in late

December.

Brown said he would launch a national search and, nearly five months later, questions have

arisen as to what kind of national search has been undertaken. The evidence suggests the

search has been limited to interim Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

If that's what the mayor wants to do, he is entitled to do it, but he shouldn't call it a

national search. And he shouldn't suggest that when he settles on a candidate, that he knows

he has found the best one possible. Meanwhile, Derenda's appointment runs out June 30.

The mayor has the prerogative to hire and fire appointees serving at his will. He also has

the right to hire whomever he chooses without extending his search beyond the city boundaries.

The question is, will Buffalo get the police commissioner it deserves or will it be a matter,

as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously said, of going to war "with the army you

have — not the army you might want or wish to have."

Here's how Buffalo could get the police commissioner it might want. Have a set of

credential requirements.

The city charter states: "The commissioner of police shall have either (a) a degree from an

accredited college or university and at least five years' experience in law enforcement; or

(b) an equivalent of training and experience sufficient to indicate ability to perform the

duties of this position."

Nothing less than the former should be good enough.

Police commissioner of the second largest city in the state is easily one of the most

important jobs in the administrative food chain. The basic credentials should include command

experience, appropriate education and training.

Start with a structured resume that includes accomplishments, jobs and training and a panel

that is composed of labor unions, citizens and elected officials reviewing the applicants

prior to interviews and an assessment center before coming up with the top three qualified

candidates.

These are people who come to the table with a set of experiences, education and training that

equip them to do the job. For police commissioner, one might want someone who has gone through

professional training such as the FBI National Academy, considered a fundamental requirement

to be a midlevel manager in some departments.

Having a history of achievement and accomplishment, regardless of where the person comes

from, should be a high priority in appointing the next police commissioner for the City of

Buffalo.