Four finalists named for Coeur d'Alene police chief, ex-Spokane chief among them
Coeur d’Alene named four finalists, ex-Spokane Chief Craig Meidl and three current chiefs/deputies will advance to in-person panel interviews March 12 for a job paying $127,732–$179,753.
1. Jake Fisher, chief, El Monte Police Department
Jake Fisher was identified in the city announcement as chief of the El Monte (California) Police Department and is one of four finalists advancing to in-person interviews on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Multiple outlets list Fisher by title but the captured reporting does not include additional biographical details such as years of service or his record in El Monte; the city’s materials may provide a full résumé or references ahead of the panel. Fisher’s candidacy brings an out-of-state executive currently leading a municipal police agency into a process that emphasizes community input and interagency review. Voters and local stakeholders will likely evaluate whether his experience in El Monte aligns with Coeur d’Alene’s size, crime profile and community expectations.
2. Dave Hagar, temporary/interim chief, Coeur d’Alene Police Department
Dave Hagar is serving as the department’s temporary or interim chief, reporting varies between “Temporary Chief” and “interim police chief”, and is the lone finalist with Coeur d’Alene police experience. The Spokesman-Review explicitly notes that “Hagar is the lone candidate with Coeur d’Alene police experience,” which places him at an advantage on institutional knowledge, staffing continuity and local relationships when he faces panel interviews on March 12. The vacancy followed Chief Lee White’s retirement “last month” after leading the department for more than a decade and logging over 30 years in law enforcement; Hagar’s current role grew out of that transition. The city’s public materials should clarify Hagar’s official designation (temporary vs. interim) and the scope of any delegated authority he currently holds as the finalists are vetted.
3. Craig Meidl, former chief, Spokane Police Department
Craig Meidl, identified as the former Spokane Police Department chief, brings the most detailed public record among the finalists: he spent nearly 30 years with Spokane police and rose to chief for the last seven years of that tenure. Reporting notes that Meidl resigned after Mayor Lisa Brown was elected and later served briefly as Richland’s interim police chief in the Tri‑Cities in 2024; a photo caption in the record shows Meidl meeting Gov. Jay Inslee on June 7, 2019. Meidl’s regional profile and the circumstances of his resignation are likely to be focal points during the March 12 panel interviews, as community leaders and elected officials assess leadership style, accountability measures and community trust. His inclusion on the finalist list makes the search a regional story: the city will need to explain how Meidl’s past leadership aligns with Coeur d’Alene’s priorities for public safety and officer conduct.
4. Greg Yeager, deputy chief, Fort Collins Police Services
Greg Yeager is listed as deputy chief with Fort Collins (Colorado) Police Services and will join the other three candidates for in-person panel interviews on March 12. The captured reporting lists Yeager’s current title but does not provide further biographical detail or tenure information in the available coverage; those specifics typically surface in candidate bios or the city’s personnel materials. The final selection process will consist of a series of panel interviews that include partnering agencies, community leaders, city staff and elected officials, a structure designed to surface both operational competence and community-facing priorities. City Administrator Ron Jacobson framed the stakes succinctly: “Hiring the right Police Chief is one of the most significant decisions a City Administrator can make. The Chief sets the tone for accountability, integrity, and trust between members of the department, the rest of the City team, community partnerships, and the citizens. The citizens of Coeur d’Alene deserve a Chief who will uphold our City’s tradition of excellence while continuing to strengthen public trust and public safety.” The position’s annual salary range is reported at $127,732 to $179,753, and the March 12 panels will determine which finalist is deemed best positioned to steward public safety, departmental culture and community trust going forward.
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