There is a new face heading up Windsor police and she is making history.
Windsor Deputy Chief Pam Mizuno has been appointed acting chief of police while the search for a new chief continues.
Chief Al Frederick officially retires June 30.
Mizuno is the first woman to hold the police chief's position in Windsor.
The Windsor Police Services Board appointed Deputy Chief Mizuno as acting chief, effective July 1, 2019, until a formal decision regarding the next chief is announced.
Mayor Drew Dilkens said there is still one more candidate to interview for the chief's position and an announcement should be made soon.
"We have it down to a short list of three candidates, all very good in their own right. So, we're just working through the process to make sure that we get the best of those three candidates," said Dilkens.
Dilkens said Mizuno has done a good job as deputy chief over the past year and was an easy pick to be interim chief.
"It was I think very easy for the board to say we had no problem and we had full confidence asking Pam to take the acting chief role as we work through that process," the mayor added.
Dilkens said the shortlist is made up of internal and external candidates.
Mizuno thanked Chief Frederick for his mentorship over the years at the board meeting on Thursday.
Chief Frederick attended his final board meeting on Thursday and Mayor Drew Dilkens thanked the chief for his 35 years of dedicated service.
Chief Frederick expressed his gratitude to the board, the community and the media for their support throughout the years. He has said previously he can take comfort in the fact that the department is bringing in people who are community-minded. Frederick added he's been blessed because he believes he has the best team in Ontario.
