After searching for about six-months, the city of Fort Myers has tapped the former head of the Toledo Police Department to be it's next police chief. This comes after former chief Doug Baker was fired.
The city manager has selected Derrick Diggs who has a career spanning 37 years. The city manager says Diggs stood out among the eight finalists because of his experience and vision for the department. Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads and Captain Melvin Perry were also in the running.
Fort Myers residents like Shirley Cybert says she's relieved the city manager has chosen a new police chief.
"It has been overdue," Cybert said. "Its been too much going on. Too much killing..bank robberies."
Violence has become all too familiar in the Dunbar community. Cybert says she hopes the new chief will make major changes.
"You got good police officers, you got some bad police officers and it needs to be cleaned up from the inside," she said.
While the city manager has picked former Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs to fill the role in Fort Myers, city council still has to approve his selection.
Mayor Randall Henderson gave Four In Your Corner his prediction on councils vote based on Diggs' credentials.
"I'm going to predict that we're going to have near unanimous if not unanimous acceptance," Mayor Henderson said.
Fort Myers mayor also tells FOX 4 Diggs plans on opening lines of communication between police and the community, as well as working with witnesses who may have key information to major crimes but may be too afraid to come forward.
"I think that includes getting boots on the ground and earning trust of citizens," Henderson said. "I'm really looking for leadership from our chief to curb the violent gun crime."
The city council will be meeting Thursday to vote Derrick Griggs is expected to be introduced during the meeting.
