Capt. Brad Arleth knocked out of contention for Spokane police chief

Spokane police Capt. Brad Arleth will not move forward in the search for a new Spokane police chief.

Arleth, who runs the downtown precinct, was one of 10 semifinalists for the job, but was knocked out when the city’s search firm narrowed the pool to finalists this week. He was the only internal candidate to identify himself publicly.

Current Assistant Chief Craig Meidl did not apply for the job.

Arleth said he got a call early Thursday morning from the firm, Strategic Government Resources.

“I would have liked to have moved forward but I think you’ve got to trust the process with the recruiting firm,” he said. “I already got a job I like working with people I like and working for a department I like.”

The city plans to announce the chief finalists July 15 after conducting background checks, the city said earlier this week in a news release.

City spokesman Brian Coddington said he could not say how many finalists there would be or whether anyone under consideration was an internal candidate until the names are released publicly.