Mealer out as Post Falls interim police chief

POST FALLS — Jason Mealer is no longer Post Falls interim police chief, city staff confirmed Wednesday. 

The circumstances of his departure are unclear, but he is not employed by the city. Capt. Mark Brantl is leading the Post Falls Police Department.

The confirmation comes about three weeks after The Press began inquiring about reports from anonymous sources that Mealer was on administrative leave. City officials repeatedly said they could not confirm or deny the reports.

Mealer, a captain with the department, was named interim police chief after longtime chief Greg McLean retired in October.

Mealer and Stu Miller, formerly of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, were finalists for the police chief position, according to public records obtained by The Press.   

Communications between Mealer and city employees between March 16 and March 30 showed that, two days after the March 17 City Council meeting, emails from City Administrator Shelly Enderud to department heads announced that Mayor Randy Westlund would nominate Mealer as police chief.

“The Mayor has requested that Jason Mealer’s name be brought forward at the April 7 council meeting to be appointed the City of Post Falls’ next Chief of Police. The appointment and contract will come at the beginning of the next meeting for council,” Enderud’s email read.   

Subsequent emails included in the records documents announced the news to specific departments and shared well-wishes for Mealer from city employees.