Columbia’s next police chief to be announced Wednesday at City Hall

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s next chief of police will be announced Wednesday during a press conference at Columbia City Hall, according to a Monday press release from the city.

The press conference will take place at 2 p.m. and is open to the public, according to the release.

The four finalists include: former Forest Park Chief of Police and Public Safety Director Nathaniel Clark from Georgia; Major for the Human Resources Division in Kansas City Dan Haley; Assistant Police Chief for Columbia Police Department Jill Schlude; and Deputy Police Chief Michael Zeller from Greeley, Colorado.

All four finalists spoke at a candidate forum and answered questions on Oct. 18 at City Hall.

The search for a new police chief occurred after former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones announced his retirement from the position back in June. Since Jones' last day of work on Aug. 1, Matt Stephens has served as interim police chief.

The city hired Public Sector Search and Consulting Inc. who specializes in areas like recruiting police executives, to help them with the search for a new chief.