The city of Lewiston has named a new police chief, according to an announcement posted Thursday on the department’s Facebook page and the city’s website.

City Administrator Ed Barrett confirmed that Brian O’Malley will be sworn in Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Lewiston City Hall.

O’Malley has led the police department on an interim basis since former chief Michael Bussiere retired six months ago. The city undertook a national search to find his replacement.

“Brian O’Malley was the consensus choice of a diverse hiring panel that evaluated over 20 qualified applicants for the Lewiston chief’s position,” Barrett said in a statement. “Through that process, it became clear that he is strongly committed, not only to continuing and building upon the success the department has achieved, but to the community that it serves.”

O’Malley said he is looking forward to serving as the city’s new police chief, adding that he considers the department “to be the finest police department in the state.”

O’Malley has served with the Lewiston department for 27 years. He has held a variety of positions, including patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, sergeant of detectives in the Criminal Investigations Division, and deputy police chief.

O’Malley has advanced training in crisis negotiation and homicide investigation, and is a certified civil rights officer.

“Brian’s dedication and professionalism have been demonstrated time and time again over the last 27 years, and I am very pleased that he will now be at the helm of the Lewiston Police Department,” Mayor Robert E. Macdonald said in a statement.

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com