Baker selected as new Fort Myers police chief

Chief Douglas Baker Fort Myers City Manager William Mitchell has selected Interim Police Chief Douglas Baker as the city's new police chief.

Mr. Mitchell said Mr. Baker "is (the) best qualified, considering his experience and knowledge of the city and the challenges facing it."

Over the past six months, with the assistance of Slavin Management Consultants, Mr. Mitchell conducted a national search and recruitment for a new chief to replace Police Chief Hilton Daniels who retired on July 30.

More than 150 candidates applied for the job. Five finalists, with one withdrawing, were invited to the city for interviews and presentation at a reception that was open to the public. A panel of local citizens and law enforcement professionals from throughout the state conducted televised interviews of the finalists and recommended the top three to Mr. Mitchell.

Mr. Baker is a 22-year veteran of the police department. He has earned a bachelor's degree in management and master's degree in human resources management from International College in Fort Myers.

Rising through the ranks, Mr. Baker was promoted to the rank of major in 2003 and served as commander of the Operations Bureau, assuming the additional responsibilities of the Investigations Bureau in 2006. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, he supervised the Community Policing Unit, the Crime Prevention

Unit and the Citizen Police Academy. He developed and implemented the police department's comparative statistics program or Compstat approach to reducing crime, allocating and managing resources and improving the city's quality of life. He also led the city's anti-crime task force in 2007. It was his leadership during the tragic killing of Police Officer Andrew Widman that enabled the police department and the City of Fort Myers to ensure needed support to Officer Widman's widow and family.

Mr. Mitchell will ask the city council for confirmation on Dec. 1.