The Yellow Springs village council has named interim police chief Brian Carlson chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department. Village officials announced the decision at a council meeting earlier this week.
Carlson began serving as interim chief in January, shortly after Chief Dave Hale resigned following the department’s controversial handling of the village’s New Year’s Eve festivities. Community members criticized YSPD's use of a police cruiser to disperse the crowd minutes after midnight. They also complained about the use of stun guns at the event.
Carlson has been involved in recent efforts to improve community policing in Yellow Springs. Department officers participated in a mandatory de-escalation-techniques training session in March.
Carlson has worked for the Yellow Springs Police Department for seven years.