INDIANAPOLIS — Randal Taylor's decision to step down as IMPD police chief is still surprising to some people who know him.
"Just a great guy. A man of great integrity. I was somewhat saddened by it, but I understand when you want to move in new directions," said Charles Harrison, with the Ten Point Coalition.
Now, local faith leaders are focused on who will be the next leader of the state's largest police department.
"Who the chief is is extremely important," said David W. Greene Sr., president of concerned clergy of Indianapolis. "When we look at the number of homicides and the number of non-fatal shootings we are having year after year, this position is critical. We definitely need to get the right person."
"I think he's done a good job in mentoring and putting others in position to lead the police department," Harrison said.
The leaders believe the right person for the job should have an agenda focused on community and accountability.
"They have to be knowledgeable about really addressing the issue of crime and violence in the city," Harrison said.
"The new chief will have to be able to balance that accountability between law enforcement and community when both of them will clearly be needed, if we are going to deal with items such as police-action shootings," Greene said.
"We want them to be committed to building a strategic roadmap or strategic plan that involves stakeholders from the community, folks from City-County Council, of course the mayors administration, to make sure that the game plan for how this department is going to function is understood across the board," Black Church Coalition organizer Josh Riddick said.
There are some character qualities Taylor has that these faith leaders would like carried over to the next chief.
"Nice and kind and compassionate. Someone who works well with people. Someone who is not easily offended," Harrison said.
"Chief Taylor had a very diverse staff. I think that will be critical to have various voices in the room," Greene said.
"When invited into organizing spaces, he was almost always present," Riddick said on Taylor's dedication to the job.
No matter who the next police chief is, they hope the person is ready to serve.
"Whomever is the police chief must be engaged with the community. They cannot sit on the second floor of the City-County Building and solve this crisis," Greene said.
Taylor has said he's not leaving the department and plans to be around for at least another year-and-a-half.
He hopes to work in a different capacity helping out victims' families.