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After a months-long hiring process, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean on Monday selected Chris Dennisonassistant police chief in Tucson, Arizona, to be the new leader of the Boise Police Department, according to a news release from the city.
“Chris understands the special trust that must exist between a police department and the community it serves,” McLean said in the statement.
The city sought to incorporate community input into the hiring process by holding meetings and focus groups and distributing an online survey. More than 1,500 people responded to the survey, according to the release, citing “reducing crime” and “improving public safety” as their top priorities for the next chief.
All three finalists for police chiefs came to Boise last month for a public forum.
The Boise police union expressed its support for Dennison’s selection.
“We believe (Dennison) is the appropriate choice for our chief because of his care for his community and his officers,” Boise Police Union Local 486 said in the statement.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar is set to retire in September. Dennison’s start date will be announced in the coming days, the statement said.
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