New police chief hired

By Medicine Hat News on December 6, 2022.

Medicine Hat has found its new police chief in acting police chief Alan Murphy.

City council members approved the hiring – recommended by the city’s police commission – on Monday night’s council meeting by a 9-0 vote.

“I am beyond excited to take on this challenge going into the future and ear this uniform,” Murphy said in a brief statement.

Murphy was the deputy police chief in Edmonton until this fall when he became acting chief in the Hat, taking over from Insp. Joe West, who was named interim chief in May after the resignation of police Chief Mike Worden.

Commission member, Coun. Shila Sharps, read out the motion, and said that the process that began in May drew 29 “amazingly qualified candidates.”

That was reduced to eight, then a shortlist was interviewed in person by the entire Medicine Hat Polcie Commission, which includes Sharps and Coun. Alison Van Dyke.

Coun. Allison Knodel made a brief statement saying council interviewed Murphy and commission members before approval.

“We have some great needs in community and we need an individual who is able to carry all of those needs into the future,” she said. “I’m confident we have that individual.”

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