City administrator of Jefferson City gives recommendation for next chief of police

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The city administrator for Jefferson City has recommended Captain Eric Wilde as the next chief of police for the city.

Under the city charter, the city administrator makes their recommendation for department heads.

The recommendation then goes to the mayor and city council who make the final decision.

The letter to the mayor and city council says Wilde was picked after a nationwide search and interviews with people from inside and out of the department.

Wilde has worked for the city since 1998 in a variety of positions.

He has been serving as a captain from 2014 and has over thirty years of military experience according to the recommendation letter. Capt. Wilde oversees the Operations Division of the Police Department which encompasses the patrol section, traffic unit, SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team.

The police chief appointment is an item on next week's Jefferson City council agenda.