The public will get their chance to sit down and talk to Interim Lathrop Police Chief Stephen Sealy next week.

After temporarily postponing the “Meet with the Chief” event that was scheduled for Wednesday, the City of Lathrop announced this week that Sealy would be meeting the public on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 3 to 4 p.m. inside of the community room at the Lathrop Police Department complex in River Islands – located at 940 River Islands Parkway.

Sealy, who was hired as one of the two commanders under the leadership of then Police Chief Raymond Bechler, was appointed into the Interim Police Chief role upon the termination of Bechler’s employment last month.

The situation was a focal point of public discussion earlier this week at the first meeting of the Lathorp City Council since Bechler’s termination, and multiple people offered Sealy their support as he steps in help steer the department through the transition.

Neither the council nor the city have commented publicly on what the next steps for the position will be – whether they will attempt to fill Bechler’s role internally or open the position up to outside applicants or those recommended by consultants.

Since Bechler was the first employee hired for the Lathrop Police Department and was the face of the department for the last two years, the public meeting next week will be Sealy’s first chance to show his leadership of the men and women that have been working beneath since the department’s inception.

Sealy and former fellow commander Kyle Oki were both hired to fill the layer directly beneath the Chief of Police in the department’s hierarchy. Sealy has been the commander in charge of operations – putting him directly in charge of sergeants and patrol operations during his tenure.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.