Boise’s search for a new police chief has reached its official conclusion.
City council members voted unanimously to confirm Chris Dennison as the city’s new chief on Tuesday. Dennison will take over for police chief Ron Winegar, who is retiring in September. Dennison will officially take over the position on Sept. 20.
“I was born and raised in Tucson, spent the last 20 years of my life dedicating myself to the profession in the city of Tucson and I am beyond excited to dedicate the next chapter of my life with my family to the city of Boise and doing the same work that I did in Tucson here,” Dennison said at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Council President Colin Nash spoke to “glowing reviews” that Dennison had received from all levels of staff during the council’s review of Dennison’s candidacy for chief of police.
Dennison comes to Boise with two decades of experience serving for the Tucson (Ariz.) Police Department. Dennison most recently served as the department’s assistant chief of police.
“I heard over and over again from people that had talked with him, from our officers, from people that served alongside him in Tucson, that he was deeply committed to community, and we as Boiseans are deeply committed to community,” said Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, who offered the job to Dennison over two other finalists.
Following the city council’s review process, it was believed that Dennison showed commitment to “collaboration” and “building relationships” that would allow the police department to be able to best serve the city of Boise, McLean said.
Council members were universal in their praise for Dennison, believing that he would be able to meet the city’s expectations and respond creatively to the problems faced by the department.
“I have no doubt that he’ll lead with honor and integrity,” Meredith Stead, council president pro tem, said. “On the interview panel I think we learned a lot about his creative problem-solving strategies for all different kinds of things from community policing to recruitment of women, and all kinds of things in between.”
Dennison will take over in the position following a series of short-lived chief tenures in the Boise Police Department, with Winegar serving as the interim police chief on two separate occasions.
Prior to Winegar, the post was held by Ryan Lee, who spent just over two years years in the position. Internal complaints prompted an investigation into Lee, and though no charges were filed against him, he resigned at McLean’s request in September 2022.
“I will absolutely not let the men and women down of the Boise Police Department,” Dennison said.
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