COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Deputy Chief Tom Quinlan will serve as interim police chief after the retirement of Chief Kim Jacobs while the nationwide search for the chief proceeds.

Quinlan joined the Columbus Division of Police in 1989, working in a variety of assignments over a 23 year career. Most recently he’s served as the Deputy Chief of the Patrol North Division.

“I truly believe Chief Quinlan will be able to take us into the future,” Chief Jacobs said. “Tom has been out there in the community for quite a long time, attending meetings [and taking part in important dialogues.]”

“I am grateful to Mayor Ginther for this opportunity to lead our safety forces during the transformations to come,” said Deputy Chief Quinlan. “I commit to all of our safety personnel that I will undertake change with a balanced approach of the community’s needs with officers’ expectations and safety. I ask the community to join us – literally — as we pursue the Mayor’s goal of doubling diversity over the next 10 years and becoming the model of what community/police partnerships can achieve when we form trusting and transparent relationships.”

“This will be a process different than this process has ever been in the past,” Mayor Ginther said, announcing Deputy Chief of Staff of External Affairs Dawn Tyler Lee will lead the nationwide search process. “Full of community engagement, and discussion of what the residents of Columbus want out of their next police chief.”