Scottsdale Police Department Names Interim Chief

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The city of Scottsdale will have a new, albeit temporary, police chief come Nov. 30.

City Manager Jim Thompson has selected Jeff Walther to take over the position when current Police Chief Alan Rodbell retires from his post, according to a Friday news release from the city.

"Alan Rodbell has served this community with dedication and distinction, and with a new City Council taking their seats in January, we will begin the process to recruit someone who will continue that legacy and lead our outstanding police department," Thompson said in a statement. "We are fortunate to be able to bring back Jeff Walther, who knows our community and our department, to serve in this interim role."

Rodbell announced in October that he would be leaving law enforcement for a career in the private sector. He has held the job since 2003, the second-longest tenure for a chief in the city of Scottsdale.

Walther retired from the department as an assistant chief in 2018 after serving for 24 years. He will come out of retirement to lead the department during its search for a new chief, which is expected to take around six to eight months. Walther will not seek the permanent position, according to the statement.

"In cases like this, my preference is to select an interim leader who will not be a candidate for the permanent job," Thompson said. "That assures a level playing field for others who want to apply for the job, whether they are internal candidates or people from outside the organization."