MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township Police Department is closer to find a new Police Chief.

On June 20, six semi-finalists attended a public meet-and-greet.

Township's residents came to the Municipal Building to meet with the Police Chief Candidates.

The process of picking a new Police Chief began right after the current Chief Dave Hall announced his retirement on April 3rd after 40 years of service.

"I think the new chief should be aware of the crimes that are going on and recognizes the fact that crimes involving in technology is getting bigger and bigger," said Dave Hall, cuurent Police Chief for Meridian Township.

Chief Hall also stressed the importance of sexual assault investigation.

He said the new Police Chief should work with survivor Brianne Randall-Gay on the newly developed Sexual Assault Prevention Program.

The Township received a total of 31 applications.

The search committee narrowed the list of candidates to six semi-finalists.

The semi-finalists are Albion Director of Public Safety Scott Kipp; Meridian Township Assistant
Police Chief Kenneth Plaga; retired Lansing Lieutenant Larry Klaus; Burton Chief Thomas Osterholzer; retired Michigan State Police Post Commander Joseph Thomas; and Decatur Chief Thomas VanDerWoude.

Frank Walsh, Meridian Township Manager said, "I would like to see someone who comes up with some fresh ideas, some fresh perspectives and looks at our department and takes our department to the next level."

The public meet-and-greet event was also a part of assessment for the Police Chief candidates.

Walsh said the public meet-and-greet "will be helpful as we move forward to selection of the Chief sometime around mid-July."

The search committee will start to interview the six semi-finalists today and they will narrow down the candidates to two finalists.

The new Police Chief is anticipated to begin in July.