Bainbridge Police Department has a new deputy chief, Chief Matt Haney announced Wednesday.

Jon Fehlman, Sr., currently a Lieutenant of the Special Services Division, Investigations Bureau of the Santa Rosa, Calif., Police Department, has been tabbed to succeed Mark Duncan, who retired from the post in October.

According to a press release, Fehlman has 23 years of experience in police work and a master’s degree of Science in Emergency Services Administration. He directed several investigation teams at the Santa Rosa department.

“Jon’s experience in staff development was a definite deciding factor in his selection,” Haney said. “He has a personal commitment to mentoring people who show the interest and aptitude for advancement in police service. This will be very valuable to us as we seek to ‘grow’ our police department and to promote officers from within.”

Fehlman is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and United Against Sexual Assault, and is currently chair of the Community Multi-Cultural Board, the release said. He is married and has five sons, ranging in age from 9 to 20. Fehlman will be the department’s second deputy chief. He begins duty Dec. 1.

A full story will appear in the Review’s Saturday edition.