Straub introduced as Spokane police chief

Flanked by community leaders and members of the Spokane Police command staff, Mayor David Condon formally announced that he has hired Frank Straub to serve as chief of police.

The selection of Straub as chief was first confirmed early Wednesday morning by KXLY4 Reporter Jeff Humphrey.

At the announcement Wednesday afternoon, Condon praised Straub for his unconventional, outside-the-box thinking that appealed to him as a candidate for the chief position.

Mayor Condon said that interim chief Scott Stephens would be staying on as a member of the department's command staff; Straub added he was looking forward to work with Stephens as well.

Within minutes of the announcement that Straub would be the next chief, statements of support came in from across the community, including one from Police Lieutenant Dan Torok, the vice president of the Lieutenants and Captains Association, who said that the association is looking forward to working Straub to rebuild the department.

The issue of rebuilding the force was a key part of Straub's welcome aboard speech.

"Policing is a noble profession ... we owe it to the community to be the best we can be," Straub said, adding that he thinks that Spokane has a good police department or he wouldn't have applied for the position.

Touching upon the nobility of law enforcement, Straub added that there's no other profession in the nation where someone willingly puts on a uniform, a badge and a gun and puts their life on the line day in and day out so that others in the community can go home safely every night.

He expanded on his thoughts about the rebuilding of the department, saying that his goal is to reconnect the community with the police department, something that has been lost in recent years. This isn't the first time Straub has seen a rift between a police force and a community, citing similar situations in New York City and Indianapolis.

As for bringing in the Department of Justice to investigate the department to find strengths, weaknesses and where the police force needs to improve, Straub said plainly, "Let 'em come," explaining that he has previously served in the Justice Department and welcomed them to come and evaluate the department.