Tempe has chosen a 22-year veteran of the city’s police department to lead the agency on an interim basis.

Josie Montenegro will serve as interim chief after current Police Chief Jeff Glover's last day Feb. 13 when he becomes director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

City Manager Andrew Ching named Montenegro, who has been  an assistant chief for more than a year.

Tempe is conducting a national search to replace Glover, and a first review of applications will start Feb. 20. Police employees and community members will be able to meet and ask questions of the candidates at forums in March, according to a city release.

Montenegro has a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

She attended the Los Angeles Police Department West Point Leadership Academy and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command, the release stated.

In Tempe, she  has had various assignments from patrol officer to commander prior to being named an interim assistant chief.

“We place a high value on public safety in Tempe and I know that Assistant Chief Montenegro will continue the tradition of leadership and service in the role of interim chief,” Ching said in the release.

“I am grateful to her for stepping up to serve in this capacity at my request.”

According to the Tempe City Charter, it is the city manager who has ultimate hiring authority for city employees, including hiring and management of the role of police chief.

The City Council, according to the charter, has no authority in hiring and management decisions, except for the appointed employee roles of city manager, city attorney, city clerk and presiding judge.