Quincy appoints interim police chief

QUINCY - Greg Meinzer will serve as the interim police chief for Quincy until the city is able to find a replacement.

Meinzer previously served as the interim police chief for Quincy in 2009.

The city council approved Mayor Jim Hemberry's motion to appoint Meinzer as the interim police chief Wednesday during a special council meeting. Meinzer will start in June and serve as the police chief until October.

Hemberry explained that Meinzer already knows most of the police department and the Quincy community.

"I think he's an excellent person to lead us through the transition from the past administration to a new administration," Hemberry said.

There was only one issue that arose with hiring Meinzer. Since Meinzer has been out of law enforcement for more than two years he no longer has arrest powers, but the mayor felt that shouldn't be a problem.

"I'm not interested in another police officer," Hemberry said. "I'm interested in an administrator."

Quincy municipal code does call for the police chief to have full arrest powers, but Hemberry will ask the city council to adopt an ordinance at the next meeting June 4 that will outline standards for an interim police chief.

Hemberry explained the city will begin the process of finding a new police chief immediately and may utilize the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in the search.

Hemberry hopes the city will find a permanent replacement within four months so that Meinzer can help the new police chief transition into his position.

According to the mayor, Meinzer won't be making drastic changes to the police department, but will be trying to fix some administrative issues as well as regaining the public's trust in the department.

"He'll come in and take care of business," Hemberry said. "Get us back on the straight and narrow."

Meinzer is scheduled to start June 1, but since he lives in Wenatchee he won't be working at the Quincy Police Department full-time until June 18.

Meinzer was a member of the Washington State Patrol for 29 years before becoming Chelan County's undersheriff in 2003. Meinzer retired from the Chelan County Sheriff's Office in 2009 and has worked as the security supervisor at Central Washington Hospital since July 2011.