City Manager Bill Watkins names interim director Zim Schwartze as the permanent leader. Police Captain Schwartze had served in the interim after the resignation in may of former director Jim McNabb. Schwartze has worked for the Columbia Police Department since 1991. Watkins and a community advisory committee picked Schwartze over 3 other finalists.
Schwartze has 2 years until she can retire under the police department’s pension plan. Watkins says she’s indicated she’ll remain as the head of Public Safety-Joint Communications until then. At that time, she’ll have the option of being reassigned with the PD or retiring from the police department and continuing on as the director of Joint Communications.
