We're Asking the Wrong Question About Police Chief Candidates In the last year alone in San Diego County, residents in Oceanside and La Mesa have urged city leaders to look outside the department for police chief candidates. But what if that chief with innovative ideas, a community focus and an excellent leadership style doesn’t exist? Oceanside’s city manager reversed course and decided to consider outside candidates in the city’s search for a new police chief in 2020, following community concerns about internal candidates. / Photo by Megan Wood The average tenure for a police chief is four to six years, according to a 2019 study. That time may have shortened in recent years as demands for additional police accountability have emerged.