COLUMBUS – Thomas Quinlan was named the new chief of the Columbus Division of Police, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Tuesday.
Quinlan is a 30-year veteran of the division who has been serving as its interim chief.
He replaces Kim Jacobs, who retired in February.
Ginther cited Quinlan’s decision to disband the division’s scandal-ridden Vice Unit and replacing it with the Police and Community Together program to work more closely with the community on vice-related issues and increasing the diversity of police recruits as evidence that Quinlan will be the “change agent” Ginther said he wanted when the search for a new chief began.
Quinlan will be expected to act on the findings of a consulting firm’s report and those of the Columbus Safety Advisory Commission, expected next month, in addressing racism in the division, increasing diversity among the ranks, holding officers accountable and building community-police relations, Ginther said.
The search for a successor to Jacobs marked the first time the city looked outside the division for a new police chief, a nationwide effort that involved over 4,000 people.