UPDATE: King City names new police chief with Chicago experience

UPDATE /18/2015 11:01 a.m.: The beginning of a new era may finally be here for King City. After a year-long search, Thursday city leaders announced the community has a new chief of police. NewsChannel 5 found out he comes from a large department with a lot of experience.

City leaders said they went through a long intense process before making their selection for who will head the King City Police Department. But they feel they’ve got the right man for the job.

“He definitely has command experience,” City Manager Michael Powers said.

Powers said he brought in a selection committee to help him chose a police chief for a very broken city.

“The chief is your face in law enforcement for your community trust in your chief is trust in your law enforcement,” council member Mike LeBarre said.

For more than a year, King City residents have seen seven officers, including their former chief, face various criminal charges. Above all else, newly hired Chief Ronald Forgue will have to make residents believe in him.

“I think Chief Forgue will be a very visible involved in the community chief who will address the communities need to resolve crime problems within our community,” Powers said.

Christian Lopez works at Mee Memorial Hospital in King City and sees a lot of the aftermath from the violence.

“I definitely hope that they can implement new regulations around here as far as how they patrol the area and what they do to be able to reduce that violence,” Lopez said.

Forgue worked with the Chicago Police Department over the past 29 years in narcotics, internal affairs, the detective division, as well as the gang and tactical units. Come Monday, Forgue will take over the chief’s office. Interim Police Chief Tony Sollecito said his time in the position will end then. But that expiration date means a new beginning for a city in desperate need of some hope.

“Obviously have had a number of homicides in the past getting both the active cases and the cold cases resolved is a very, very high priority within our department,” Powers said.

“Where the actual crimes have happened, that’s where I’m kind of uneasy if I’m going to be walking around there,” Powers said.

Forgue will be getting into town this weekend. The official swearing in will take place Monday at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers and Forgue is expected to speak then.

PREVIOUS STORY: A new police chief has been named for the King City Police Department. On Thursday, City Manager Michael Powers said Ronald Forgue was announced as the new Chief of Police. Forgue will be sworn in June 22 at City Council Chambers at 10 a.m.

Forgue is a 29-year police veteran with the Chicago Police Department, where he ranked as a Lieutenant, Powers said.

His previous assignments include working with narcotics, internal affairs, the detective division, the Inspector General’s Office and gang and tactical units. Powers said Forgue has been given many awards including two Awards of Valor for an intensive shoot-out with a corrupt police officer and a drug dealer.

Forgue was selected after an extensive search which began last year. The search came after former Acting Police Chief Bruce Miller resigned following an investigation into six officers, including Miller, for their alleged involvement in a bribery and embezzlement scheme.

NewsChannel 5 will have more on this story.