3) Edward Davis, Commissioner, Boston Police Department. For as much time as the governor of Massachusetts and mayor of Boston stood before microphones and television cameras in the days after the Boston Marathon bombing attack this past April 15, it was the face, voice and presence of Ed Davis that seems to stands out months later. While the bombing brought forward a plethora of federal, state, and local law enforcement jurisdictions, in addition to intelligence agencies who were looking for other potential actors, Davis showed command as well as compassion in some very tense days.

4) Robert Mueller, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation. While not a police chief/commissioner in a typical sense, when you lead the one of the largest federal law enforcement agencies in the country (and world), nothing about your job is typical. Mueller has served for twelve years in what can only be considered one of the other really tough jobs in Washington. Only on the job for more than a week when the September 11 attacks occurred, Mueller transformed the FBI into one of the most nimble of tools to combat terrorism while still having to deal with all of the other issues the bureau has had to deal with since it opened its doors in 1908. Twelve years in any job is a long time, and Mueller has more than earned a lucrative post-government career, but he could be called upon again to serve his nation in a critical role, and his confirmation for the DHS post would probably be the fastest ever seen.

All of the names I’ve mentioned have their critics or have had career missteps along the way.  Nor is the background of a police chief/commissioner the perfect proving ground for the DHS secretary position. We shouldn’t forget we almost had a police chief/commissioner type in the DHS secretary’s chair when President Bush nominated former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik for the position. That was before his nomination fell apart and Michael Chertoff was selected to succeed Tom Ridge.

There is also no finishing school or intense training camp where DHS secretaries come from, either. If there were, we’d have a lot more positions filled at DHS than at present, given the tremendous vacancy rate the department presently possesses. Regardless, the persons screening candidates for the president to select should not forget that all emergencies and disasters start locally, and one of the parties most experienced in leading in those circumstances would be a great candidate for an even bigger jurisdiction to patrol and protect.

Here’s hoping we get that person on the beat soon…