Columbia’s next police chief to be named Wednesday afternoon

By Zimmer Communications
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Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood delivers his first state of the city address on June 2, 2022 at city hall (file photo courtesy of city of Columbia Facebook page)

Columbia officials have called a press conference for Wednesday afternoon to announce the city’s new police chief.

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood will brief reporters and the general public at city hall at 2 pm tomorrow to discuss the search’s process and to introduce the new chief, who will also speak. Mr. Seewood’s press conference will take place in the city hall council chambers.

The city held an October community forum with the four finalists, who shared their vision for the future of policing in Columbia. The four finalists are, in alphabetical order, former Forest Park (Georgia) and Fort Smith (Arkansas) police chief Nathaniel Clark, Kansas City Police Major Dan Haley, Columbia assistant police chief Jill Schlude and Greeley Colorado deputy police chief Michael Zeller.

Former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones retired in August, after serving as chief since 2019. Matt Stephens is currently serving as the interim chief.