Jon Withers’ job title at the Seminole Police Department no longer includes the word “interim.” He is now the city’s full-time police chief, City Manager Steve Saxon announced Friday.

The city has been engaged in a multi-state search for a new chief for nearly a year following the departure of David Hanson, who resigned last April amid allegations of harassment. The allegations were levied by both community members and police officers.

“We are delighted to announce that Jon Withers has been selected as Seminole’s chief of police,” Saxon said. “We had 19 excellent applicants and a phenomenal final three to interview. We had current and former police chiefs from Sand Springs and Sapulpa on the interview panel. In the end we had a unanimous decision for Jon Withers.”

Saxon added that Withers’ familiarity with Seminole County plus his military background resulted in his rise to the top of the list of candidates for the job.

“Jon was raised around here and graduated from Vamum. His military background has obviously helped him get to this point,” Saxon said. “He has a great perspective after working with several law enforcement agencies. Seminole needs a well-rounded chief of police and Jon has spent quite a bit of time as a patrol officer and as a detective with tribal and municipal governments. Our new chief is SWAT trained and was awarded officer of the year during his training at Broken Arrow.”

Withers, who was named interim chief shortly after Hanson’s resignation, said he believes the Seminole Police Department will one day attract officers from all over the state.

“I am looking forward to serving the community of Seminole and believe I can bring a different outlook to the department with my experiences over the last twenty years of different types of police work,” Withers stated. “This department has a great frame to become a leading police department in the State of Oklahoma and will be a place that will attract new police officers. During my tenure as the interim police chief, I have gained a lot of support and guidance from city administration, other police chiefs from around the state, as well as the support from our current officers.”