ARDMORE -- The search for a new police chief began last August, after then-chief David Leonardo resigned amid controversy. Six months ago, Gary Adams came out of retirement to serve as the interim police chief, working to ease the internal turmoil. Now city officials say they've found their next permanent chief and tonight we introduce you to him.

Keith Mann graciously accepted his appointment as Ardmore's chief of police. The retired Oklahoma City officer says he got his start in Texoma, and has always looked up to the Ardmore Department.

"I worked with some of the Ardmore officers back in the ‘70s and really thought this was a high quality police department that I admired and I always hoped at that time that I could one day be as good as they were,” Mann explained.

Now Mann will lead the Ardmore police department. The career lawman has extensive experience with police budgeting, internal investigations, and dispute resolutions, but says it may be his attitude that really sets him apart.

"I don't want to change this to be a police department like I want it to be. I want to become part of this police department and part of this community and serve the citizens here,” Mann said.

The Citizens Response Committee and city officials unanimously recommended Mann. Then with a unanimous vote, city commissioners officially appointed Mann the new police chief.

"We felt like the community was represented, the department was represented and the city was represented and the process really worked well and brought us the right candidate,” City Manager J.D. Spohn said.

Over the past decade, Spohn says the Ardmore police department has been through about 5 leadership changes. Spohn says he looking forward to the stability Mann will bring.

Mann tells us he's in this for the long haul, and although he know he'll face challenges, he's ready to help the department move forward.

"This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. You're going to have to work with these officers, show them that you care, build their trust with you, and show them that you're part of them and willing to work with them,” Mann said.

Chief Mann is scheduled to start Monday, February 22nd. But city leaders say he'll begin meeting with police officers Wednesday morning.

Mann got his start in Sulphur. In Ardmore, city officials tell us Mann will be paid a base salary of $1,800 a week. That's considerably less than the $2,800 a week base salary former Chief Leonard was reportedly paid.