Jefferson City Council appoints new police chief at meeting Tuesday

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council appointed a new and experienced police chief at its meeting Tuesday night.

City Mayor Carrie Tergin and Council members unanimously voted to hire Captain Eric Wilde Tuesday, after the city's administrator recommended the hire. In 1998, Wilde joined the Jefferson City Police Department working in various roles.

Wilde was promoted to the rank of captain in 2014. According to the recommendation, Wilde has more than 30 years of military experience and oversees several divisions within the police department including patrol, traffic, SWAT, and crisis negotiations.

Council members were optimistic about Wilde's hire and thanked him for his years of service to the city.

The Jefferson City administrator's recommendation to hire Capt. Wilde follows a nationwide search, with candidates from inside and out of the police department interviewing for the position.

Council was expected to vote on a five percent raise for city workers, excluding police officers but was split on the decision and did not make the vote. Two council members made motions to pull it off the agenda. Some members were in support but wanted to wait for third ward councilwoman Erin Wiseman who sponsored the bill and was not in attendance. Other members said they need to act on this immediately due to inflation.

The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday at 6 p.m. after city offices were closed Monday in observance of Juneteenth.