Jill Schlude, GMLC Class of 2015, will serve as Columbia’s next Police Chief.  Chief Schlude was chosen in a nationwide search and she will be the first female Chief leading the police department.

“Jill was the standout candidate during the search process for Columbia’s next chief,” City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said. “Community members representing business, public safety, education and more, identified her strong vision for the Columbia Police Department and her ideas for addressing those issues most important to our residents as the reason she will be the best fit for the next chief.”

Schlude will be sworn in on December 4. She has served as the Columbia Assistance Police Chief since 2019 and has been with the department since 2005 where she started as a patrol officer.

Congratulations on this well deserved promotion. We know Chief Schlude will serve the Columbia community well.