SPOKANE, Wash. – On Monday, Mayor David Condon selected -- for the second time -- interim chief, Craig Meidl, to be Spokane's new police chief.
Condon made the announcement Monday at the celebration of C.O.P.S. Northeast moving into the North Precinct.
Condon previously selected Meidl as chief on August 1. It was a move that surprised many. After receiving backlash, Condon reopened the search for chief and put Meidl through the interview process.
Meidl was selected from a pool of four candidates.
Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner, Yakima Police Chief Domic Rizzi and Frisco Police Chief John Bruce were also vying for the position.
City Council President Ben Stuckart said the committee he was on unanimously recommended Meidl for the position.
Meidl will now need to be confirmed by the City Council. Condon said Meidl's confirmation will be filed this week to begin the confirmation process by the Spokane City Council.
If that happens before noon on Wednesday, Meidl will go before City Council for confirmation on October 10.
Now that he is officially chief, Meidl said he plans to first select a command staff and then continue with a cultural audit. In addition to the audit, Meidl said the police department is also participating in a research project that looks at whether or not officers disproportionately stop minorities.
“Once those results are done we will work with the community that's impacted by those disproportionate contacts, look at that data, look at our policies, procedures, training, and help us determine are there things that are creating this environment where this is occurring, are there things we need to change,” said Meidl.
Meidl said he will work to increase trust and faith in the Spokane Police Department.
New SPD Chief Craig Meidl says he will work to increase trust & faith in the Spokane Police Department. pic.twitter.com/xO9a4SIIck
— Lindsay Nadrich (@KREMLindsay) September 26, 2016
“I believe the Spokane Police Department is at a pivotal point, we must and we will continue our efforts to increase the trust, faith, and confidence that our community has in us,” added Meidl.