Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet was sworn into office on April 18, 2008. He was awarded the post by unanimous vote of the city's Finance Control Board in March 26, 2008.

Commissioner Fitchet said, "I am very gratified at the support that I got, not only from inside the department, which means a lot to me, the officers, and superior officers, but from the community," he said. "It was very gratifying for me, and I am very proud to lead the Police Department. They are a great group of people. We have a lot of work to do, and we are going to move ahead with it."

Fitchet was the Police Department's senior deputy chief and a 35-year veteran of the SPD.  (information and quote gleaned from the Republican story by Peter Goonan)