He's been hired to reform and lead the police department, and Thursday was Frank Straub's first day to get the lay of the land in the Lilac City.
"It's absolutely outstanding. I don't think my fiancé and I have stopped smiling since we've been here," Straub said.
Straub was introduced to the mayor Wednesday, flanked by city officials and members of the police department's command staff. Now he's getting down to business.
It's a honeymoon period for Straub and the city as he toured downtown and began his orientation with the police department, getting his first impressions of his officers and staff.
Listed under weaknesses, the panel said Straub didn't seem interested in Spokane and had extreme media and political baggage. Former Spokane Police Chief Roger Bragdon had some wide-ranging views of Straub's skill set. In the citizen comment section, one woman from Indianapolis wrote Mayor David Condon and said that no one should hire Straub.
On the other hand, interim police chief Scott Stephens wrote that he thought Straub had excellent related job experience and training and that he's a reasoned thinker.
Following up on that first impression during his interview, now Straub is hoping to make better second impressions when the chief badge is pinned to his uniform.
"It's my obligation now to meet my colleagues, to get to know them, and allow them to get to know me and I think at the end of the day, it's going to be a good fit for everybody," Straub said.
Straub had a luncheon with the rotary this afternoon and meetings at the police department for orientation. He and his fiancé will also spend the next several days looking for a house and planning their move from Indianapolis.
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