Arcadia hires new city police chief

A months-long search for the new Arcadia Chief of Police has come to an end as the city council voted to hire Nicholas Scholl to the position last Thursday.

The unanimous vote came after a closed session during a special meeting. Scholl will fill a vacancy that has existed since Diana Anderson resigned in January. 

Scholl is familiar with the city, having worked in the police department under Chief Patrick Grzadzielewski more than a decade ago. Mayor John Kimmel told the Times that he was sad that Scholl left the department back then, but was excited to see him apply for the chief opening. 

Scholl has worked in Buffalo County for much of his law enforcement career and was a detective in the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office — under Sheriff Mike Osmond, another former Arcadia officer — before taking the Arcadia post. 

The new chief will have the task of completely rebuilding the city department. All five city officers have resigned this year, following Anderson’s resignation in January, Brandon Larson resigned in March, while Edwin Olmos Arias, Israel Garcia and Lucas Lindquist all left the department in April. 

Anderson and Larson told the Times that their departure was due largely to the high call volume and public criticism from the city council. Kimmel has said the officers were seeking career growth. Anderson took a job working for a state law enforcement agency, both Olmos Arias and Larson were recently announced as new hires for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Lindquist now works for the city of Osseo. 

Garcia’s departure came after he was suspended by the city following an arrest on March 15. Garcia was in the La Crosse County Jail on charges of obstructing an officer, but charges have not officially been filed. 

Kyle Myhre, a former Arcadia city council member and Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office deputy, has served as the city interim police chief since February. He will assist as Scholl during the transition period.