Uncertified police chief doesn’t worry Indianapolis mayor Uncertified police chief doesn’t worry Indianapolis mayor

INDIANAPOLIS — A spokesman for the Indianapolis mayor says there aren’t any problems with the city’s acting police chief not being certified as a sworn police officer in the state.

Mayor Greg Ballard named Deputy Public Safety Director Rick Hite as the acting chief on Tuesday after Chief Paul Ciesielski stepped down over mishandling of a fatal crash involving a police officer who authorities believe was drunk.

Hite spent 32 years with the Baltimore Police Department before joining the Ballard administration in 2010.

Ballard spokesman Marc Lotter tells WRTV that the mayor believes Hite is the right person for the job and he has a year to seek officer certification waiver.

The Indianapolis Star reports Hite is considered an acting civilian chief and that he needs certification to be appointed chief.