A new face will soon take over at the Jefferson City Police Department, but it's not an unfamiliar one.
Upon an unanimous decision Tuesday from City Council, Capt. Eric Wilde will become the city's next police chief.
The council opted to hire the longtime JCPD officer after a recommendation from City Administrator Steven Crowell, which he said was a result of a nationwide search involving 19 applicants.
Wilde thanked the council at the podium and expressed how humbled he was to lead the department, especially as the current policing environment continues to change.
"It requires a lot patience, a lot more flexibility, a lot more ingenuity and more importantly, a lot more compassion," Wilde said.
Per Section 5.2 of city charter, the city administrator is directed to endorse a candidate for City Council and mayor approval.
All council members and Mayor Carrie Tergin voted in favor of hiring Wilde, with the exception of Ward 3 Councilmember Erin Wiseman, who was absent from the regular meeting Tuesday.
Wilde has worked in the department for 24 years, serving as a captain since 2014. He oversees the operations department that includes the patrol unit, traffic unit, SWAT team and the crisis negotiations team. Wilde has a bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri) and more than 30 years of military experience.
Responsibilities of the job include leading the department, preparing the annual budget and communicating with city councils about the functions and needs of the police department. The police chief is paid $90,600-$135,900.
The job search began when Roger Schroeder announced plans for retirement in February. Schroeder, who has had the top job for nearly 24 years, said he would stay on until the position was filled.
"I want to thank Chief Schroeder, the current police chief, for many years of service to the city," Crowell said Tuesday. "And I'd like to thank all the candidates both internally and externally ... we had some opportunity to receive some feedback."
Crowell said the list of candidates were assessed by two committees. Committee members included law enforcement officials, representatives from community organizations, including the local chapter of NAACP and the Jefferson City Downtown Association, Lincoln University representatives and Cole County representatives, among others.
The first committee focused on reviewing each of the candidates' skills and qualifications, while the second committee focused on the candidates' fit for the position.
"So, it's kind of a two-fold process, and then I weighed a lot of the comments and thoughts and suggestions from both committee meetings," Crowell has said.
"Jefferson city has been in my home for a long, long time, and it dawned on me that I recognize so many people here at the city council meeting tonight, not city employees or city council members, just people in the community," Wilde said.
Afterward, several council members expressed their congratulations.
Other council business:
Jefferson City Council postpones vote on city-wide wage increase