Coeur d'Alene Mayor Set to Appoint New Police, Fire Chiefs Tuesday

Mayor Dan Gookin was expected to name Coeur d'Alene's next police and fire chiefs at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, filling two public-safety leadership vacancies that have shaped much of his first weeks in office.

The 6 p.m. meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Community Room put Gookin in position to select from four police finalists and three fire finalists, with both positions advertised at an annual pay range of $127,732 to $179,753.

On the police side, the field was narrowed to four candidates on March 12 following an evaluation and interview process to replace Chief Lee White, who retired Jan. 14. The finalists are Jake Fisher, chief of the El Monte Police Department; Craig Meidl, former chief of the Spokane Police Department; Deputy Chief Greg Yeager with the Fort Collins Police Services; and Interim Chief Dave Hagar, who has been leading the Coeur d'Alene Police Department since White's departure.

Three finalists emerged for the fire chief position after interviews held March 5: Jake Bieker, a current fire captain at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department; Jon Fugitt, deputy chief-administrator and fire marshal of the Fullerton Fire Department in Fullerton, Calif.; and Kristan Maurer, the first woman to serve as fire chief for Clark County Fire District 6 in Washington state. They are vying to succeed Chief Tom Greif, who is retiring April 16 after nearly 30 years of service with the department.

The dual appointment came as Gookin continued filling out his administration following his January 6 assumption of the mayoralty. In late January he announced the intention to bring on former Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson as Interim City Administrator, citing the need for stability during a period of leadership transition.