by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The Thief River Falls City Council has formally hired a new police chief. The council hired Marissa Adam at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Adam, who was formerly employed as the city’s police investigator, has been serving as interim police chief since Wednesday, July 1. She succeeds Dick Wittenberg, who retired Tuesday, June 30. It is believed she is the first woman to serve as the city’s police chief.
Adam was hired as police chief retroactive to Wednesday, July 1. She will be paid an annual salary of $96,684.
The council unanimously hired Adam with no discussion regarding her hiring at the council meeting.
Adam has been employed as the department’s investigator since 2007. The department currently employs 14 officers, including Adam and Deputy Police Chief Jaeger Bellows.
In a separate, related motion, the council authorized an internal process for filling the position of police investigator. If an internal candidate were hired as the investigator, the council has also authorized filling that officer’s current position from the applications for a second vacant position in the police department. That latter position became vacant after the resignation of Officer Ryan Bassett in July. The council is currently accepting applications for Bassett’s former position.