Columbus Mayor Robert Smith officially swore in Oscar Lewis III as the new chief of the Columbus Police Department during Tuesday’s council meeting.
The council voted 3-2 to hire Lewis, who is finishing his time as the Waynesboro Police Chief. Following the meeting, Lewis expressed excitement at officially starting on the job Monday.
Lewis is a former Columbus police officer. He served with the department from 1994 until 2014, when he left to take the chief job in Waynesboro.
Lewis has previously told The Dispatch he’s happy to return to Columbus.
“I look forward to getting home and going to work,” Lewis said in an earlier interview. “I look forward to working with the citizens and officers of the Columbus Police Department and trying to lead the department in a positive direction.”
City officials have not said publicly what Lewis’ salary is.
The council also voted unanimously Tuesday to name Joe Dillon as independent contractor to handle public relations affairs for the city.
Chief Operations Officer David Armstrong said the city will pay Dillon a $24,000 annual fee for his services.
The city began advertising for the job, originally as a city position, in January. Smith said the city hoped to use the position to streamline and improve its communications with citizens, media and other organizations.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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