MADISON, Wis. -- After months of speculation, the Police and Fire Commission announced its choice late Thursday afternoon for police chief.

Acting Police Chief Noble Wray beat out two other inside candidates -- Capt. Cheri Maples and Sgt. Mike Kovall. All three candidates are veterans of the department.

The original prediction was that Madison would have a new chief in August, after former Chief Richard Williams retired in April. But the PFC was reportedly stuck in a 2-2 tie -- half for Wray and half for Maples. This went on for months until the mayor appointed a fifth member to break the deadlock. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, a manager of interpreter services and minority community relations at UW Hospital and Clinics, joined the PFC in September.

Wray is a 20-year veteran of the MPD. While serving as acting chief, Wray took center stage during the Audrey Seiler case. Wray lists handling that fake missing person/adbuction case as an example of his leadership skills on his resume.

He has a bachelor of science in criminal justice from UW-Milwaukee, and has worked closely with many local organizations, including the Girl Scouts and the Urban League. He's won many awards, including a 2004 NAACP Soldier Award for many years of volunteering and promoting the mission and goals of the NAACP in Madison.

City Leaders 'Relieved'

Madison City leaders unanimously agree the announcement of a new police chief is a relief.

"We are very happy a decision was made. I think we had three very qualified candidates," said Capt. John Davenport, of the Madison Police Department.

"It's been a real long wait. There were rumors and we were anxious, but now we're happy it's over," said Officer Dave Wixon, of the Madison Police Department.

From members of the police force to the mayor, they said the announcement of Wray's appointment is taking the weight off the community's shoulders.

"He's both steady and resourceful. He's a steady hand on the helm of the police department," said Dave Cieslewicz, Madison's mayor.

The key to the final decision came from one member of the PFC, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff. She was added to the commission in September after the four members were deadlocked. Shiva said despite the situation, she didn't feel any pressure.

"My goal was not to meet anyone's expectations, or to cave to anyone's pressure for time. So, I just think I wanted to make sure I was deliberate and made a good choice," Bidar-Sielaff said.

With the keys to the department now firmly in his hands, Wray said he's ready to get down to business. It means moving forward with a concept he calls trust-based policing.

"It is the evolution of community-oriented policing. It is where we improve in the area of what we do proactively and we improve in the area of what we do co-actively in our relationship with citizens," said Wray.

In addition to trust-based policing, Wray plans to come up with alternatives to arresting young people, to start holding internal and external listening sessions, and to submit a state of the city by February.