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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Time to move on ... Mochas, midrash and mysteries: The problem with atheists and believers ... Should boulevard median use artificial turf? ... Our View: Time to move on ... Mochas, midrash and mysteries: The problem with atheists and believers ... Should boulevard median use artificial turf? ... OUR VIEW Our View: The right choice Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News After sifting through 42 applications for chief of the city's police department, the Ashland City Council stayed with a proven leader who has shown he has the right stuff for the job. The council voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Tighe O'Meara to the top law enforcement spot. O'Meara has been interim chief since Terry Holderness retired in April. He has been with the department since 2010, when he started as a sergeant after 13 years with the Wayne State University Police Department in Detroit. Mayor John Stromberg noted that O'Meara had been trained to lead a department. City Administrator Dave Kanner cited O'Meara's 23 years in law enforcement, the last five in command positions, and his commitment to the community. For us, what stands out is O'Meara's performance during a confrontational meeting with community members while the search was still underway for Hannah Thomas-Garner, who disappeared from a party on Nov. 30 and stayed missing for 97 days before contacting her family. O'Meara, then deputy chief, stood in his shirtsleeves in a chilly drizzle for 45 minutes outside police headquarters, patiently explaining why investigators still believed Thomas-Garner had run away of her own volition. The fact that O'Meara and the department turned out to be right all along isn't the point. What impressed us was O'Meara's cool but compassionate demeanor, and his willingness to take unscripted questions from an emotional group of critical citizens. The council clearly recognizes O'Meara's value to Ashland, and they made the right choice.    DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501