City appoints new police chief

The Painesville Police Chief position has been filled.

City Manager Monica Irelan appointed Lieutenant Dan Waterman to lead the department.

Council approved the appointment during a special meeting on Sept. 21.

“Under our City Charter, Council needs to bless my appointments and terminations of Department Heads,” Irelan said.

Waterman has served as acting police chief since June, after Anthony Powalie retired.

There were two candidates for the position.

“Both were great applicants and the city would be well served by either leader,” she said. “I used an independent, outside firm to handle the initial evaluation and interview process. That firm worked closely with me to determine the leadership style the Police Department and community needs; then based their evaluation around those needs. Once their evaluation was complete, the Human Resource Director and I did the final interviews on Tuesday.”

Waterman served as Patrol Services commander and was responsible for daily patrol operations, administrative support personnel and supervisor

complaints, according to the Painesville Police Department’s website. He also served as the field training supervisor, Evidence Room

supervisor, evidence technician and spent years developing the police budget and managing capital projects. He holds an associate’s degree in accounting from Lakeland Community College, bachelor’s degree in finance from Kent State University and is a graduate

of the Southern Police Institute’s 126th Administrative Officers Command School in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Dan is well prepared for the position, and I look forward to seeing what we are able to accomplish under his leadership,” Irelan said.