MILL CREEK — Mill Creek Police Chief Bob Crannell does not pretend to have a crystal ball, but experience has taught him to anticipate change and be ready to adjust to it rather than wait to react.

Crannell stressed last week the importance of staying in step with change, rather than react after, say, the city’s population overshadows police services.

The department relies on its strategic plan, a 20-year road map, to guide it through population increases, matching staff to citizens and identifying when the department can afford to make changes. The police department is looking for Mill Creek residents to address the topics covered in that strategic plan, released internally last month.

Crannell said he does not want to dwell on how things have been done, rather how things are being done.

“If you’re living here 20 years from now, what do you want?” he said.

The ad-hoc committee will be comprised of three residents, police staff and City Council members. Applicants must commit to eight to 12 bi-weekly meetings. The meetings will probably be held during the evenings, run two to two-and-a-half hours and be dedicated to long-range planning. Applicants must submit to a background check.

Commander Lance Davenport said applicants do not have to be involved in every board and committee, but the department would prefer someone not completely disengaged from the community.

“We’re looking for the ‘average Joe’ if you will,” Davenport said.

Crannell said he would like to select community members and get to work by the first two weeks of March.

With the expectation that the city’s increasing population will not slow down soon, Crannell emphasized the police department needs a strategic plan locked into place.

While police staff is confident with their way of getting things done, Crannell said his staff agreed it’s more fair to let the community weigh in to offer a new perspective and share what they would be willing to pay for services.

“You have interaction between three user groups, that’s the magic of it,” he said.

Davenport added having citizens on the committee offers a fresh perspective on how things are done.

“We’re looking for someone who will ask, ‘Why are you doing it that way?’ or ‘Why not do it this way?’’’ he said.

Crannell said the committee will look 20 years out at police services, priorities, infrastructure and staffing levels and how they are anticipated to change.

The committee will offer its perspective on when issues should be addressed, what its priorities are and where police should spend more of their focus and where to back off.

Police staff spent 13 months hammering out the strategic plan, which identifies the department’s services, priorities, infrastructure and staffing and weaves the department’s mission, priorities and values to achieve their goals.

“It doesn’t force their hand but it makes it harder to not make a decision when you can explain to citizens it meets our goals and vision,” Davenport said.