The Austin City Council endorsed the pick Monday of making Austin Police Detective Brian Krueger its new chief of police.
The Austin City Council voted 7-0 to approve the council Police Committee's unanimous recommendation of Krueger. The committee interviewed finalists on Thursday before making its recommendation of Krueger.
Krueger's exact start date is unclear, as the job offer depends on the results of a psychological evaluation, which may take about two weeks. City staff said the search for a new police captain will also start soon and may be handled internally by the new chief.
Council members offered handshakes for Krueger after the council meeting, but the vote was received with little fanfare as few attended the council meeting.
The confirmation represents the city's first new police chief since 1992, when Paul Philipp was appointed to lead the department. He retired in early 2010.
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Krueger's confirmation brings the Austin Police Department closer to being back to full strength for the first time in nearly three years. Capt. Curt Rude was suspended in 2007 over charges he had improperly removed evidence at the police station. Rude was found guilty in 2009 of felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime and a gross misdemeanor of interference with property in official custody. He was acquitted of felony theft. He was removed from the police force after that.
Krueger assumed management of the department's detective division as co-acting chief after Philipp retired.
